Former Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz reaches base three times in Dodgers debut

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

LOS ANGELES — Making his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers — alongside fellow 2008 World Series champions second baseman Chase Utley and RHP Joe Blanton — former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz went 1-3 with a single, walk and hit-by-pitch against the MLB-best Chicago Cubs Friday evening at Dodger Stadium.

Ruiz, 37, was traded to the Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for nine-year veteran catcher A.J. Ellis, minor league RHP Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later.

The Panama native's five plate appearances went as follows, as the Dodgers went on to fall 6-4 in extra innings: hit-by-pitch (2nd), walk (3rd), single (5th), ground out (7th), ground out (10th). In the bottom of the ninth, a wild pitch from RHP Kenley Jansen, off the reaching glove of Ruiz, allowed right fielder Jason Heyward to score from third and force extras. Ruiz is now batting .262/.374/.351 this season.

Ruiz — a 2012 National League All-Star who placed in the top 28 in voting three times for National League Most Valuable Player (2010-2012) — ranks second among catchers in Phillies franchise history in doubles (213) and hit-by-pitches (73), and fourth in runs (388), extra-base hits (288) and walks (386).

He caught each of the Phillies' last four no-hitters, which is tied for the major league record with former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek: May 29, 2010 (perfect game); Oct. 6, 2010 (NLDS), Sept. 1, 2014 (combined) and July 25, 2015.

The Dodgers currently lead the National League West division over the San Francisco Giants by one game. With 34 games remaining for both clubs in their respective seasons, both figure to earn playoff berths barring a late Wild Card run by the Miami Marlins (1.5 games back), Pittsburgh Pirates (2.5) or New York Mets (3.5).