LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers added a chemistry test to the equation Thursday, trading beloved backup catcher A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies in order to improve the teams fortunes against left-handed pitching.The Dodgers landed right-handed hitting catcher Carlos Ruiz in the transaction, as well as cash considerations, while minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later also went to the Phillies along with Ellis.Ellis was not only the longest tenured Dodgers player, having spent 13 years in the organization and the last seven in the major leagues, he was also extremely close with staff ace Clayton Kershaw. Ellis said a number of emotional goodbyes with players and staff Thursday, but the most emotional was with Kershaw.Baseball is funny, anything can happen in the future, but to know that in almost all likelihood I will never get to catch him again is without a doubt the most devastating thing I am feeling right now, Ellis said. To feel that and for both of us to hang out here and try to process what was happening, it was very difficult.Ellis has said that catching Kershaw is like having an up-close-and-personal look at somebody on the road to the Hall of Fame. The duo sat on the dugout bench together Thursday afternoon without much to say.I think the shock kind of it hit us both simultaneously and we both cried, Ellis said.Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that team leadership and chemistry were all taken into account, suggesting that the front office chewed on the deal for multiple days. In the end, though, the Dodgers were intent on improving a lineup that was 13th in the National League in OPS against lefties at .663.Ruiz has just 44 at-bats against lefties this year, but he has two of his three home runs in those at-bats. He has 121 at-bats against right-handers. Over his 11-year career, Ruiz has a .275 batting average and an .814 OPS against lefties, compared to .265 and .722 against righties.I think that is a big part of it is him against left-handed pitching, just the quality of at-bat, Friedman said of the 37-year-old Ruiz. It was something, as a whole that [we] were focused on in July and then into August was just ways to lengthen our lineup against left-handed pitching. ... With Carlos, we felt that we could get more offensive production out of that position.Ellis said he was at a neighborhood park with his son Thursday morning when he received a text to come for a meeting in manager Dave Roberts office. Although he guessed what the meeting was likely about, the confirmation of the trade hit him hard.Its a really, really sad day for me; its a really sad day for my family, Ellis said. The one thing I am most proud of is being a Dodger for my entire career. I was drafted by these guys in 03 and to have been the longest tenured Dodger was something I was extremely proud of. To have that gone now in a blink of an eye, without much time to feel finality to it, it rips your heart out.Ellis was getting only sporadic playing time of late as catcher Yasmani Grandal had been flourishing both behind the plate and with the bat. Ellis was batting just .194 with a .252 OPS in just 139 at-bats. But his departure is sure to be felt.Friedman was asked how much of the chemistry equation was considered to make the potential offensive return from Ruiz worth making the deal.All of our interests are perfectly aligned in terms of doing everything we can to bring a world championship back to Los Angeles, Friedman said. 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New Zealand have blown Australia away 41-16 in the final of the Fast 5s netball world series on the back of another prolific points effort from sharp shooter Maria Tutaia at Hisense Arena .Facing a daunting 17-point deficit heading into their last quarter power play, Australia failed to score a single point when double points were on offer.Tutaia was on fire and amassed 27 personal points, including five three pointers, two of which counted for double during her sides second-quarter power play.New Zealands power play netted 18 points and effectively ended the Diamonds tilt at claiming their first Fast 5s title and completing netballs slam.Australia were favourites heading into the final after reaching the decider undefeated and claiming the prize scalp of the Silver Ferns 32-29 in their electrifying pool game on Saturday night.Earlier, tournament surprise packets Malawi overcame England 35-32 in one of the upsets of the tournament to secure third place and their best finish against the top six netball nations.New Melbourne Vixens signing Mwai Kumwenda, who top scored for the tournament with 151 points, led her team to the famous win which will likely be remember for the sides spirited post-match dance celebration.New Zealand have won six out of the last seven tournaments and their only loss came agaainst Australia in Saturday nights last pool game, 32-29.dddddddddddd.Earlier, captain Susan Pettitt played a telling hand in Australias 26-20 victory over England and Australia completed their pool rounds undefeated with a resounding 31-14 win over winless South AfricaFast 5s is netballs answer to T20 cricket. The 26-minute matches feature hybrid rules, 5-players a side, multiple point shots and power plays.Fast 5s Fern captain Tutaia announced her retirement from Fast 5s after 25-point grand final victory.Tutaia was the tournaments second highest scorer with 129 points.Fast 5 Diamonds captain Susan Pettitt said she was extremely disappointed with her sides power play.The girls did really well considering the situation but when our shots arent going in and Maria is hitting all of hers, its hard, Pettitt said.Our defensive effort throughout the whole tournament was fantastic but we couldnt stop Maria at the end there, and thats unfortunate.We actually werent too worried about the second quarter (NZ power play) and we still were in range and we knew that but when (Maria) was nailing those threes on our power play, we knew we had to go for sixes and thats not our strength. 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