Carlos Ruiz on Fire As Phillies Host Red Sox for Three-Game Series

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May 18, 2012

Carlos Ruiz on Fire As Phillies Host Red Sox for Three-Game SeriesEditor's note: The temperature gauge is a Bill James-created statistic that measures how hot or cold hitters are. We will spotlight Red Sox and opposing team temperatures on game days.

Carlos Ruiz's expertise behind the plate is invaluable to the Phillies, but it's his bat that's making headlines this season.

Ruiz enters Friday's series opener against the Red Sox with a .363 average — the third-best mark in the National League. That impressive figure accompanies seven home runs and 27 RBIs, both of which are healthy numbers to start the season.

Ruiz feasted on Cubs pitching during Philadelphia's last series in Chicago. The veteran catcher is 6 for his last 11 with a home run and four RBIs.

He'll try to keep his sizzling hitting going against Daniel Bard on Friday.

Here are the Red Sox and Phillies temperatures for May 18.

Red Sox
Cody Ross, 86
David Ortiz, 81
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 81
Daniel Nava, 79
Dustin Pedroia, 73
Mike Aviles, 73
Marlon Byrd, 70
Mauro Gomez, 67
Kelly Shoppach, 62
Adrian Gonzalez, 59
Nick Punto, 58
Ryan Sweeney, 49
Will Middlebrooks, 46

Phillies
Carlos Ruiz, 101
Mike Fontenot, 83
Brian Schneider, 83
Juan Pierre, 81
Hector Luna, 79
Placido Polanco, 78
Hunter Pence, 78
Freddy Galvis, 77
Jimmy Rollins, 73
Pete Orr, 66
John Mayberry, 62
Shane Victorino, 61
Ty Wigginton, 56

Follow all of Friday's action with NESN.com's Red Sox live blog.

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