By Todd Zolecki, MLB.com
The Phillies’ offense is very left-handed heavy, which makes right-handed hitter Darin Ruf a pretty important part of their 2015 roster.
After Carlos Beltran’s RBI single off Joely Rodriguez in the sixth inning tied the game for the Yankees, Ruf (photo above) hit his first spring homer in the eighth to put Philly up in a 7-3 victory over New York at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday night.
Cody Asche also hit his first spring homer, while Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz stroked run-scoring singles off Yankees starter Esmil Rogers, who surrendered his first three runs of the spring in an underwhelming 3 1/3-inning outing.
Chase Headley homered in the second for New York off Phillies starter Aaron Harang, and Stephen Drew, who went deep Wednesday, lashed a third-inning RBI double.
Utley went 2-for-2 with one walk and two runs scored. He has not played in the field yet because of a sprained right ankle, but Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said before the game that could be coming soon.
