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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May 3, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General overall view of Dodger Stadium during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and hte Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-1 in 11 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General overall view of Dodger Stadium during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and hte Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-1 in 11 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

35. Scoring on Matt Stairs’ blast

During Philadelphia’s World Series run in 2008, Ruiz batted in the eight-hole just before the pitcher’s spot. Ruiz was able to get a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game Four of the NLCS, bringing the pitcher’s spot up to the plate. Matt Stairs pinch-hit for Ryan Madson and launched a home run deep into the night, scoring Ruiz and himself. It was one of the top moments of the season, and if Ruiz didn’t get that single, it never would have happened.

34. Chooch as a pillow

To advertise their million-dollar promotion for the first person to throw a perfect game in MLB 2K11, 2K Sports brought in Roy Halladay, who threw a perfect game the year prior. Halladay paid homage to his batterymate Ruiz who helped him get that perfect game.

Halladay must have really trusted Chooch, too, because he had a pillow with Ruiz’s likeness on it to run all his decisions by.

33. Game-winning hit against the Yankees

The Phillies and Yankees met in May of the 2009 in what Jimmy Rollins correctly predicted as the preview for that year’s World Series. Ruiz was a huge part in Philadelphia’s second win of the series as he caught two runners stealing. He also gave the Phillies the game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning with a RBI double.

32. Steps on the bat, gets the out

Ruiz was able to overcome plenty of obstacles throughout his career, sometimes literal obstacles. Cameron Maybin dribbled a single in front of the plate with two on. Ruiz charged the ball and threw it to first. However, as he was making the throw he stepped on Maybin’s bat and slipped, but he was still able to record the out.

Lights-out closer Ken Giles struck out the next two batters to finish off the game for the Phillies.

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