On May 12, 2006, Carlos Ruiz caught just his fourth major league game. Mike Lieberthal had recently suffered a bone bruise and fracture in his left knee, sending the longtime Phillies catcher to the disabled list. So Ruiz, thriving in triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, was brought to Philadelphia to join backup catcher Sal Fasano.
Ruiz crouched down that night, May 12, 2006, to catch his fourth game. His pitcher that evening in Cincinnati was throwing his first game. His name: Cole Hamels.
Before that evening was an era of false hope, missed opportunities and disappointing first weeks of October.