PHOTO: Yankees rookie Ben Rice celebrates with family after electrifying 3-homer performance against Red Sox
Rookie first baseman and catcher Ben Rice has been enjoying his time with the New York Yankees. Ever since his promotion to the majors on June 18, the rising star has performed admirably.
In the Yankees' 14-4 win against division rivals Boston Red Sox in Yankee Stadium, Rice achieved a first in team history. The 25-year-old hit three home runs and drove in seven RBIs, making him the first Yankees rookie to accomplish the feat in a game.
Ben Rice, who was at the top of the lineup for the third consecutive game, was ecstatic about his achievement. He celebrated and cherished the moment with his family, hugging them after the game.
Rice gave the Yankees an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a 390-foot leadoff homer, marking his second of the season. His next homer, a 406-foot shot in the fifth inning, brought in three runs for the team.
Another 406-foot hit in the seventh inning sealed the game, leading to the Yankees' victory. Rice recorded three hits in five at-bats with one strikeout, bringing his season average to .294 and his OPS to .971.
Ben Rice entered Saturday’s game hitting one home run and three doubles in his first 16 games, with a batting average of .261, an on-base percentage of .364 and a slugging percentage of .391.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone lauds Ben Rice for stellar performance against the Red Sox
The New York Yankees offense recorded 14 hits on 36 at-bats, bringing in 14 RBIs with four walks and seven strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox. Their pitching staff allowed only four earned runs on eight hits while striking out 13 batters.
The club bounced back, snapping their four-game losing streak with a decisive win. Discussing their performance and Ben Rice’s stellar outing, New York manager Aaron Boone said:
“What a game! To set the tone right away in the first inning with a homer and put together a legendary day. Something he’ll never forget… That’s a resilient win and not an easy one to come by, given what we’re going through right now and coming off last night.”
The Yankees (55-36) are second in the AL East, with the Red Sox (48-40) third. The two teams face off on Sunday in the final game of their three-game series.