Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz has spent time on the disabled list during each of the last four seasons. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz left Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning with a strained right hamstring, the team announced.

Ruiz appeared hobbled after taking off from first base on an attempted hit-and-run play, then came up limping while heading into third after a single by Freddy Galvis.

He was replaced by Erik Kratz, who filled in for Ruiz during his 25-game suspension to begin the season for a positive 2012 amphetamines test.

The Phillies could call veteran Humberto Quintero, who served as Kratz’s backup while Ruiz sat out, up from Triple-A if Ruiz is placed on the disabled list — which is likely the case for strained hamstrings.

The 34-year-old Ruiz, a free agent after this season, snapped a nine-game hitting streak that had raised his batting average to .240.

He had no home runs, two RBI and a .571 OPS entering Sunday’s game after hitting .325 with 16 homers, 68 RBI and a .935 OPS during his career season last year.

Philadelphia Phillies catch Carlos Ruiz, the team’s best position player this season, left Friday’s 3-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays with a left oblique strain.

Phillies Catcher Carlos Ruiz left tonight's game in the middle of the 6th inning due to a left oblique strain + will re-evaluated tomorrow—
Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) June 16, 2012

Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee had a similar injury earlier this year and was placed on the disabled list, and the fear among Phillies fans on Twitter was that Ruiz was destined for the same fate.

Ruiz entered Friday’s game batting .361 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs and an impressive 1.000 OPS.

Brian Schneider, the former Washington Nationals starter, replaced Ruiz in the lineup and would become Philadelphia’s starter in Ruiz’s absence.