That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies and Carlos Ruiz: Top 51 Moments for Chooch

By George Stockburger

Jun 29, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Roy Halladay announces his retirement the MLB Winter Meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Halladay signed a one-day contract and retired with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Roy Halladay announces his retirement the MLB Winter Meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Halladay signed a one-day contract and retired with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Doc’s Perfect Game

Memorial Day Weekend, 2010, I sat in Ocean City, New Jersey for what I believed to be another Phillies baseball game. After a five-game losing streak between the Red Sox and Mets the Phillies were on the road in Florida. After taking game one of the series 3-2 behind Kyle Kendrick Doc took the mound.

He’s coming off his worst start of the season, giving up six earned runs to Boston at home. With his trusted catcher behind the plate, Halladay gets Chris Coghlan and Gabby Sanchez to strikeout for the first two outs, both on 3-2 counts.

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All the sudden, Doc is mowing down Marlins hitters left and right. Several highlight reel plays are made behind him, but his teammates aren’t helping at the plate. Chase Utley knocked in an unearned run after an error in center field helped Wilson Valdez score in the third inning.

Despite the lack of run production, Halladay is pitching on another level. Six times the Doc gets hitters on a 3-2 count but never lets up.

Going to the bottom of the ninth in Florida everyone knows what’s at stake. First out comes on a deep fly ball to straight away center field. Had this game been in Philadelphia the ball would be gone, but Shane Victorino makes the catch on the warning track.

Next batter, former Phillie Wes Helms, strikes out looking.

The final out comes on a ground ball to Juan Castro, playing third base for the injured Placido Polanco. Castro spins, fires, and gets Ronny Paulino out at first base to complete the perfect game.

Halladay immediately credits Ruiz for the perfect game, saying “I can’t say enough about the job that Ruiz did tonight, really. I felt like he was calling a great game up until the fourth or fifth, and at that point, I just felt like I’d let him take over and go with him. He did a great job. Like I said, it was kind of a no-brainer for me. I’d just go out, see the glove and hit it.”

And just like that, a love story was formed.

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