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Carlos Ruiz did something in Game 3 of the NLDS not seen at Dodger Stadium since the 1988 World Series.
Chooch DELIVERS. #LALovesOctober pic.twitter.com/JTmHXX0WMQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2016
After Joc Pederson singled with one out in the fifth inning, Ruiz was called upon to pinch hit for pitcher Pedro Baez with the Dodgers trailing 4-1.
Gio Gonzalez had the Dodgers flustered to that point, just 3-for-16 on the day with a walk. But Ruiz, who homered earlier this season against Gonzalez — on April 17 with the Phillies — took him out to left field, bringing the Dodger Stadium crowd to life with a two-run home run, pulling LA to within 4-3.
It was the first pinch-hit home run by the Dodgers in the postseason since Orlando Hudson in Game 5 of the 2009 NLCS, and just the seventh pinch-hit postseason home run in franchise history. The last one at home was by Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Ruiz hit .271/.407/.386 with two home runs against left-handers this season.