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Phillies Notes: Limited schedule: Ruiz gets first start

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Carlos Ruiz was behind the plate Friday afternoon for the first time this spring. The 36-year-old caught five innings and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Ruiz will catch once every four or five days during spring training. He has played one game so far as a designated hitter. Sandberg said it is a priority to get Ruiz at-bats.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Carlos Ruiz was behind the plate Friday afternoon for the first time this spring.

The 36-year-old caught five innings and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Ruiz will catch once every four or five days during spring training. He has played one game so far as a designated hitter. Sandberg said it is a priority to get Ruiz at-bats.

"For him to get work and throw and block and everything," Sandberg said after Friday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees. "But also preserve himself a little bit and have him on a schedule that has him ready for opening day."

Giles shaky

Ken Giles made his spring debut in the sixth inning and allowed a run on one hit and two walks. The righthander's fastball reached 96 m.p.h. Sandberg said Giles was not able to establish the strike zone early in the count and "wasn't quite himself out there."

"When they don't have their whole velocity going into spring training, things can go a little different for them," Sandberg said.

Rosin determined

The goal, Seth Rosin said, was to be invited to major-league spring training. Instead, the 26-year-old righthander started his spring in the Phillies' minor-league camp.

"But that didn't deter me," Rosin said. "I was just ready to work hard and just kind of improve everyday and get back to the major leagues.

Rosin's fortune changed Wednesday when he was told that he and fellow righty Mike Nesseth were being added to the major-league camp.

"I'm going to show every ounce of effort to show what I have," Rosin said.

Small ball

Xavier Paul hit the first Phillies' home run of spring training with a solo homer to right in the seventh inning. The Phillies have just one home run in four games.

"I look at our club and we're going to have to be able to do some little things," Sandberg said. "We're going to have to be able to move runners, make contact, hit and run, bunt. . . . Definitley not wait for the home run."

- Matt Breen