Phillies and Carlos Ruiz: Top 51 Moments for Chooch

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Jul 11, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) greets first baseman Ryan Howard (6) after his solo home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

6. World Series Walk-Off

Early in his career Carlos Ruiz wasn’t typically known to be a clutch hitter for the Phillies. We’ve highlighted his moments, and each have come at critical parts in the game. However, this clutch hit changes the entire World Series, and sends the Phils into game five ahead in the series.

First to set the scene: game three of the 2008 World Series where Jamie Moyer, who watched the 1980 Phillies parade as a kid, gets the start. The 45-year-old pitches into the seventh inning, yielding the ball to Chad Durbin in a 4-2 game. Durbin allows a run to score (charged to Moyer) and Scott Eyre cleans up the inning by striking out Akinori Iwamura. Evan Longoria attempts to steal third, but a throwing error by Ruiz allows the third baseman to score. Chooch would make up for the error in the bottom of the ninth.

After Eric Bruntlett is hit by a pitch, Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs are intentionally walked, Ruiz steps to the plate with the bases loaded in the biggest at bat of his career.

A Panamanian catcher who signed as an amateur free agent now hitting in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded in game three of the World Series.

Chooch manages to catch the ball with the end of his bat, dribbling the ball up the third base line. Longoria charges in and throws towards Bruntlett at home.

Game three, won.

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