TORONTO — Ben Rice stepped into the batter’s box Tuesday night carrying the weight of the New York Yankees’ Canadian struggles on his shoulders. One swing later, those burdens vanished into the Rogers Centre night.
The rookie first baseman crushed a first-pitch solo homer in the ninth inning, powering the Yankees to a dramatic 5-4 triumph over Toronto. Rice’s blast ended the Blue Jays’ 11-game home winning streak while giving New York its first victory north of the border this season.
After six frustrating trips to Toronto, the Yankees finally had their breakthrough moment.
Rice gets revenge, Chisholm provides the key
Twenty-four hours earlier, Jeff Hoffman had embarrassed Ben Rice with a three-pitch strikeout. Tuesday brought a different story against the same reliever.
Credit Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the turnaround. The veteran infielder pulled Rice aside during the game with crucial advice about shortening his swing and trusting his natural ability.
“Huge, yeah,” Rice said. “Obviously lost five in a row to these guys. Coming back and getting a win here and getting us some good momentum.”
The victory moved the Yankees to 56-45 and sliced their deficit to three games behind the division-leading Blue Jays. New York desperately needed this momentum heading into the season’s second half.
Offensive fireworks set early tone for Yankees
The Yankees grabbed control early with explosive offensive displays. Chisholm launched a three-run bomb off Max Scherzer in the opening frame. Cody Bellinger added a solo shot while collecting two doubles and making spectacular defensive plays in left field.
“This is the team that we got to be for the rest of the half,” Chisholm said.
By the fifth inning, New York held a comfortable 4-2 advantage. The foundation seemed solid until familiar demons returned.
Defensive miscues nearly derail victory
Anthony Volpe’s throwing error in the sixth inning opened the door for Toronto’s comeback. The shortstop’s 13th miscue of the season ranks among the worst for any position player in Major League Baseball.
Myles Straw reached base on Volpe’s wild throw. The Blue Jays capitalized immediately.
Davis Schneider ripped an RBI double. George Springer followed with a clutch single that knotted the score at 4-4. Jonathan Loáisiga, still recovering from elbow surgery, surrendered a leadoff double in the seventh to compound the pressure.
Bullpen heroes step up
Luke Weaver entered the game at the perfect moment. The reliever retired three straight batters to escape the seventh-inning jam. Ian Hamilton navigated through trouble in the eighth, getting Springer to fly out with two runners in scoring position.
The stage was set for Rice’s heroics in the ninth.
His no-doubt blast sailed into the bullpen, silencing the capacity crowd. Devin Williams slammed the door in the bottom half for his 15th save of the season.
Bellinger provided the final defensive gem. With Davis Schneider on first base and two outs, Addison Barger drove a ball toward the gap. Bellinger tracked it down at the warning track to preserve the victory.
Rookie pitcher shows promise
Cam Schlittler delivered quality work in just his second major league start. The right-hander reached 99 mph on the radar gun while limiting damage over five innings despite occasional command issues.
“They definitely put the ball in play, and I knew that coming into it,” Schlittler said. “Limiting the damage is good, but I was falling behind.”
Schlittler escaped a bases-loaded threat in the second inning. Bellinger’s sliding catch helped preserve the early advantage.
Volpe partially redeemed his earlier error with a slick double play in the fifth. The shortstop ranged behind second base, flipped to Chisholm, who bare-handed the feed and fired to Rice for the twin killing.
Toronto dominance finally ends
The Yankees entered Tuesday’s contest winless in six tries at Rogers Centre this season. Toronto’s home-field advantage had become a mental obstacle for the visiting club.
Rice’s dramatic homer shattered that psychological barrier in spectacular fashion.
A sellout crowd of 42,326 fans witnessed the Blue Jays outhit New York 11-6. The Yankees made their hits count when the stakes were highest.
Aaron Judge remained largely invisible due to Toronto manager John Schneider’s strategy. The Blue Jays walked Judge intentionally seven times across six games. Other players filled the offensive void.
“We got the monkey off our back a little bit there,” said Williams, who nearly took a line drive to the head during Rice’s celebratory moments.
Looking ahead
Max Fried takes the mound Wednesday night for the rubber game. The left-handed ace will be monitored carefully after a blister forced an early exit from his previous start.
The Yankees seek their first divisional series victory since mid-June. Their 11-17 record in American League East play tells the story of their struggles.
Bullpen inconsistencies and defensive lapses continue plaguing the club. Tuesday’s victory provided a blueprint for success – timely power, clutch pitching, and smart adjustments.
Perhaps most importantly, it showcased a potential star emerging at first base.
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