The New York Yankees were in need of a spark, and rookie Ben Rice provided just that with a historic performance on Saturday. Rice, who was recently moved up to the leadoff spot in the lineup, hit three home runs in a single game to lead the Yankees to a 14-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
After struggling in his first few games at the top of the order, Rice broke out in a big way on Saturday. He hit a leadoff homer, capped a seven-run fifth inning with a three-run shot, and added another three-run homer in the seventh. This impressive performance made Rice the first Yankee rookie to hit three home runs in one game.
Rice’s heroics came at a crucial time for the Yankees, who have been struggling to put together wins in recent weeks. With the victory on Saturday, New York has a chance to win their first series in over three weeks and gain some momentum heading into the All-Star break.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed hope that Rice’s performance could be a turning point for the team. “Hopefully, it’s something that is a jump-start for us because it’s obviously not easy for us right now,” Boone said.
In 17 games since being called up to replace injured first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Rice has been a bright spot for the Yankees. The 25-year-old is hitting .294 with four home runs and 12 RBIs, providing much-needed production in Rizzo’s absence.
The Red Sox, on the other hand, saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday as they allowed their most runs of the season. Despite a strong performance from Rafael Devers, who hit a home run and recorded his 1,000th career hit, Boston’s bullpen struggled to contain the Yankees’ offense.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s matchup, the Yankees will send rookie pitcher Luis Gil to the mound. Gil, who leads all first-year players with 102 strikeouts, will look to bounce back from a rough stretch of outings and help the Yankees secure a series win over their division rivals.
On the other side, the Red Sox will turn to Kutter Crawford, who has been pitching well in his past few starts. Crawford, who has had success against the Yankees in the past, will look to stifle New York’s offense and help Boston bounce back from Saturday’s tough loss.
With both teams looking to gain momentum heading into the All-Star break, Sunday night’s game promises to be an exciting matchup between two historic rivals. Fans can expect a competitive and high-scoring affair as the Yankees and Red Sox battle it out at Yankee Stadium.
