Phillies notes: Ruf plays left field

Pete Mackanin put Darin Ruf in left field on Saturday night as the Phillies manager continues to search for offensive production from his corner outfielders.

The team's primary corner outfielders - Cedric Hunter, Peter Bourjos, and Tyler Goeddel - are batting a combined .125 in 72 at-bats with a .160 on-base percentage and one home run.

The manager said another change could come if the unit does not improve. The Phillies selected Goeddel in the Rule 5 draft, which means he is likely safe if the team makes a move. Perhaps a promotion from triple A for prospect Nick Williams? Not yet, Mackanin said.

"You can't get around it. It's not good," Mackanin said. "We have to either get these guys going or do something."

Ruf has started exclusively this season against lefthanded pitching in a platoon at first base with Ryan Howard. He has one hit in his first eight at-bats. If Ruf was not playing left field on Saturday, he would have likely been on the bench against Washington righthander Max Scherzer. The Phillies instructed him last week to start taking fly balls again in left field, a position Ruf has played at times during his five-year career. Saturday proved to be his return.

If the Phillies' search for offense takes them to triple A, the likely candidates are Will Venable, Darnell Sweeney, and David Lough.

Venable, who joined the Phillies organization at the end of spring training, entered Friday with one hit with the IronPigs in his first 16 at-bats. Lough has seven hits in 22 at-bats. Sweeney, who spent time in left field last season with the Phillies, has five hits in 20 at-bats. Cody Asche is not an option as he remains in Florida recovering from an oblique injury and has not resumed baseball activity.

"Not too far in the future, we're going to have to do something if these guys don't come around," Mackanin said.

Odubel Herrera entered Friday with a major-league-leading 237 pitches faced. Herrera, who is displaying a patient approach this season, averages 5.27 pitches per plate appearance. He had 10 walks in his first 45 plate appearances. Last season, Herrera drew his 10th walk in his 287th plate appearance. . . . Righthander Charlie Morton (1-1, 5.23 ERA) will face Washington lefthander Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 0.00) on Sunday. Gonzalez, a former Phillies draft pick, allowed three hits and no runs over six innings in his first start this season.