The New York Yankees opened the Wild Card Sequence on Tuesday evening with out Aaron Choose within the lineup. The three-time MVP’s calf pressure stored him on the bench for the largest recreation of the yr. Another person must carry the offense in opposition to the Boston Crimson Sox.
Ben Rice made positive no one observed Choose was lacking.
The Cohasset, Massachusetts native delivered one of the crucial full offensive performances in Yankees postseason historical past, ending 4-for-5 with two house runs, a double, and 6 RBIs in a 9-0 rout that put the Crimson Sox getting ready to elimination.
Rice Places Up a Historic Line for the Yankees
His six RBIs matched a franchise report for a postseason recreation. Rice did the harm in opposition to three totally different left-handed pitchers, every time making the Crimson Sox pay for difficult him.
It began within the first inning with a 110 mph double off Payton Tolle that almost left the yard. Within the fifth, with the Yankees clinging to a 1-0 lead, Crimson Sox supervisor Chad Tracy pulled Tolle and introduced in lefty Erik Miller particularly to face Rice. He greeted Miller by launching a solo homer 423 ft to useless middle.
The seventh inning introduced a 106 mph single to proper subject that prolonged the result in three. Then got here the exclamation level. With the bases loaded within the eighth, Rice hammered a grand slam off Brayan Bello that eliminated any remaining doubt.
“He pummeled pitches all evening,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “They went after him a little bit bit and he made them pay.”
Requested whether or not it was one of the best recreation of his profession, Rice stored it understated.
“I’d say it’s positively up there,” Rice mentioned.
The Massachusetts Connection
Rice is a Dartmouth graduate who grew up in Cohasset. His father performed baseball at Brown and is a member of the Boston Park League Corridor of Fame.
Performing in opposition to the Crimson Sox carries an additional layer for Rice, and he acknowledged it after Tuesday’s recreation.
“Positively provides a cool little layer to it,” Rice mentioned. “For Cam too. It’s all the time enjoyable taking part in in opposition to them.”
The pairing of Rice and Cam Schlittler, each Massachusetts natives, produced the sort of evening that felt virtually scripted. Schlittler dominated on the mound with 10 strikeouts over 6⅓ innings. Rice took care of the offense. Boone marveled on the symmetry.
“For them to exit and have that sort of evening collectively to start out this postseason, fairly superb and sort of laborious to know a little bit bit, frankly,” Boone mentioned.
“We adore it,” Schlittler mentioned.
What Rice Means With out Choose
Rice carried the Yankees lineup for lengthy stretches this season whereas Choose handled a fractured rib that value him greater than three months. He hit 41 house runs in the course of the common season and posted a 1.023 OPS over his closing 28 video games heading into the playoffs.
With Choose nonetheless sidelined, the remainder of the center of the order went quiet, Rice’s bat was the distinction between a good recreation and a blowout.
The Yankees will want extra of the identical if Choose stays out. Recreation 2 is Wednesday evening, with Max Fried on the mound in opposition to Boston’s Sonny Grey. Yet another win ends the collection.
Rice made clear he’ll bear in mind this evening for a very long time.
“I’ll bear in mind getting a W versus the Crimson Sox,” Rice mentioned. “There’s nothing higher than that.”
Closing Phrase for the Yankees
4 hits. Two homers. Six RBIs. A franchise postseason report tied. All of it in opposition to the crew from his house state.
The Yankees are one win away from the ALDS. In the event that they get there, Rice’s Recreation 1 would be the efficiency that set the tone.
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