Ben Rice didn’t see the field in the Yankees’ wild-card opener against his hometown Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. But he wasted no time stealing the show in Game 2.
The young first baseman smashed a two-run homer on the very first pitch he saw Thursday, becoming the first New York Yankees player to go deep in his postseason debut since 1998. Rice crushed a fastball from Red Sox righty Brayan Bello, sending it soaring to right field and giving the Yankees an early 2-0 lead in their 4-3 victory. That win forces a decisive Game 3 back at Yankee Stadium.
“Coming off a loss, to set the tone like that in the first inning felt really good,” Rice said after his clutch blast sparked the comeback.
Rice sat out Game 1 because Yankees manager Aaron Boone opted for Paul Goldschmidt at first base and Austin Wells catching against Boston’s lefty starter Garrett Crochet. But with a right-hander on the mound Thursday, Rice got the nod—and delivered big.
“I know my role,” Rice explained. “Tuesday, it was to be ready off the bench. Today, I started. My approach stays the same: Prepare for every at-bat.”
Teammates rave about Rice’s poise since he joined the Yankees lineup this season. “He hits the ball hard every time,” said star outfielder Aaron Judge. “Great at-bats, and when he gets his pitch, he doesn’t miss.”
Rice nearly added another homer in the third inning. With runners on second and third and two outs, he ripped a 109 mph line drive off Red Sox reliever Justin Wilson. But it sailed right to right fielder Nate Eaton, ending the rally after Boston had tied the score moments earlier.
“I’ve had a few of those this year,” Rice admitted with a laugh. “I hit it too hard—it went right to him. Tough break.”
Growing up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, as a die-hard Yankees fan made Rice’s postseason debut extra special amid the heated Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. “Unbelievable,” he said. “Being part of this now, from where I’m from, makes it all that much more exciting.”
After Rice’s breakout regular season as one of the Yankees’ top hitters, Boone faces tough lineup choices—even against lefties. “Benny’s playing and swinging so well, especially lately,” Boone said. “It makes decisions tricky.”
For the Yankees, Rice is turning into that rare good problem to solve as they fight to advance in the AL Wild Card series.
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