Game 16: Ruiz back; Thome starts

SAN DIEGO — Carlos Ruiz is back in the lineup after a two-day absence because of a left wrist injury. Joining him in Charlie Manuel's Sunday lineup is Jim Thome, who is making his first start in nine days.

Manuel is looking for something to spark this offense, which has scored 14 runs in six games during this West Coast trip. He'll start Juan Pierre for the fifth straight game and seventh time in the last eight.

1. Juan Pierre 7
2. Shane Victorino 8
3. Jimmy Rollins 6
4. Hunter Pence 9
5. Jim Thome 3
6. Ty Wigginton 5
7. Carlos Ruiz 2
8. Freddy Galvis 4
9. Joe Blanton 1

Thome is 1 for 13 this season with seven strikeouts. In his seven pinch-hit at-bats, he has fanned five times. The manager is hoping some more live pitching can jump-start the future Hall of Famer's bat.

The Phillies are facing righthander Anthony Bass. Only Wigginton has ever seen him and is 0 for 5 with two walks. Bass has a 3.38 ERA in 13 1/3 innings. He was mostly a reliever in 2011.

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