New York Yankees 14-4 Boston Red Sox
The Yankees snapped their four-game losing streak in dramatic fashion with a commanding 14-4 victory over the Red Sox, powered by a historic performance from rookie Ben Rice. The young outfielder delivered a game for the ages, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to hit three home runs in a single game.
Ben Rice goes boom
The game started off with a spark when Ben Rice launched a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning, crushing a 2-2 cutter into the second deck in right field. This leadoff blast was only the beginning of an incredible night for the rookie, who has been a bright spot in the lineup since his promotion.
Gerrit Cole took the mound for the Yankees and had a solid first inning, but encountered trouble in the second and third. After loading the bases in the second, he managed to escape unscathed by striking out Ceddanne Rafaela. However, the third inning saw Rafael Devers drive in the tying run with a single, followed by Masataka Yoshida and Reese McGuire adding two more runs with bloop singles. The Red Sox took a 3-1 lead, and Cole’s frustration was evident.
The Yankees quickly responded in the bottom of the third. Aaron Judge broke an 0-for-12 streak with an infield single, and Alex Verdugo followed with a game-tying two-run homer to center field. The home run, Verdugo’s second against his former team, rejuvenated the Yankees’ offense.
Gerrit Cole found his groove again in the fourth, striking out the side, but Devers struck once more in the fifth with a solo home run, putting the Red Sox up 4-3. That ended Cole’s day, having allowed four runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings.
The Yankees’ offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Judge and Verdugo singled, and Anthony Volpe tied the game with a ground-rule double. An intentional walk to Trent Grisham loaded the bases, setting up Austin Wells for a pinch-hit walk that gave the Yankees the lead. Oswaldo Cabrera added a sac fly, DJ LeMahieu singled in another run, and Rice delivered the knockout punch with a three-run homer into the Judge’s Chambers, putting the Yankees up 10-4.
Rice wasn’t finished. In the seventh, he came to the plate with two runners on and sent another middle-middle pitch deep into the right-field seats, cementing his place in Yankees history. His third home run of the game gave him seven RBIs, joining the ranks of Yankees legends like Lou Gehrig and Alex Rodriguez who have achieved similar feats.
Josh Maciejewski provided a highlight of his own by striking out the side in the eighth inning. The Yankees’ bullpen held the Red Sox scoreless, preserving the 14-4 win.
Up next
This dominant performance could be the spark the Yankees need to turn their season around. They will look to build on this momentum and secure a series win tomorrow when Luis Gil faces Kutter Crawford in the rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET, with the game broadcast on ESPN.
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