CHESTER, Pa. – Carlos Ruiz ruled the sports weekend in Philadelphia. Both of them.
Last Friday, for the first time, the Philadelphia Union striker met the Philadelphia Phillies catcher by the same name, with the two Carlos Ruizes even exchanging jerseys.
A day later, the soccer Ruiz scored the Union’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders. And a day after that, the baseball Ruiz hit the game-winning sacrifice fly against the Florida Marlins.
“I know him because when I Google Carlos Ruiz, his name pops up,” the Union striker said, laughing. “I’m not that big a fan of baseball. I understand the game and I played when I was a kid in Guatemala but I don’t follow too much baseball. But now I’m gonna follow the Phillies. I have the jersey.”
Both players would be wise to follow each other.
The Phillies’ Ruiz, who hails from Panama and is nicknamed “Chooch,” has become a fan favorite because of his knack for getting clutch hits, while the Union’s Ruiz, otherwise known as “El Pescadito,” has enjoyed plenty of success on his own and appears well on his way to endearing himself to Philadelphia sports fans, as well.
The 31-year-old Guatemalan has scored half of the Union’s four goals so far this season, his second coming Saturday on a beautiful curling free-kick attempt from about 25 yards out that fooled Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Even his celebration was a thing of beauty as Union manager Peter Nowak jumped into his striker’s arms along the sideline.
“I was trying to celebrate the goal with the bench because everybody’s a part of the team,” Ruiz said. “Sometimes you just see the 11 guys playing but everyone is on the same page. I was trying to go to the bench and Peter was the first guy there, so we celebrated together.”
Ruiz, who has netted 84 career MLS goals, can score in a variety of ways — including with free kicks, even though he hasn't take many for the Union.
“I’ve scored free kick goals in Mexico, in South America, for my national team, in Dallas,” said Ruiz, who’s currently in his 17th season as a professional. “It’s nothing new.”
Indeed, the only thing new about the weekend was meeting the man who steals some of his Internet fame. But losing a few Google hits is worth what Ruiz hopes will become a lasting friendship with “the other” Carlos Ruiz.
“He was a very nice person,” the Union veteran said. “We talked in Spanish and joked around. He gave me his cell phone number, and one day soon we’re going hang out and have dinner with our families.”
