Video: Ben Rice Hits 3 HRs vs. Red Sox as Yankees Fans Hail Rookie as Unsung Hero
Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 6, 2024
Luke Hales/Getty Images
New York Yankees rookie first baseman Ben Rice hit three home runs on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, meriting a well-deserved curtain call from the Yankee Stadium crowd.
“Definitely a day I’ll never forget,” Rice told reporters after the game.
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOXCurtain call for the rookie Ben Rice π pic.twitter.com/WRJ90hFHxh
Rice got the Yankees going with a leadoff homer off Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski.
New York Yankees @YankeesLeadoff Launch π pic.twitter.com/IOQTLVYlMp
Rice then added a three-run bomb off reliever Chase Anderson the fifth inning for a 10-4 Yankee lead.
New York Yankees @YankeesRice, Rice, Baby πͺ pic.twitter.com/vp96NRas1C
Two frames later, Rice smacked another three-run shot off Anderson to put the Yanks up 14-4.
MLB @MLBBen THRICE! pic.twitter.com/0nYSXJs3yq
Rice made his MLB debut on June 18 and has been one of the Yankees’ bright spots amid the team’s 4-14 skid, posting a .971 OPS and recently getting the bump up to leadoff.
Rice is the first Yankee rookie to ever hit three home runs in a game. He’s also just the third rookie to hit three homers from the leadoff spot, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs:
Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSportsBen Rice is the 3rd rookie with a 3-HR game from the leadoff spot, joining:
8/16/19 Mike Yastrzemski
8/1/09 Andrew McCutchen https://t.co/p6osOnxvrH
Rice has understandably been quite popular among Yankee fans.
Kinky Paaa @esap_6This Ben Rice kid is insane
VG @tw00mphHe isn’t Ben Rice. He is Ben Thrice. #RepBx https://t.co/jsmRHhLSoQ
JMMY @jamesxlaneBen Rice what a spark of morale for this teamπ₯
Dean78904 @DFS_AlmanacUPDATED RICE POWER RANKINGS
1 BEN
2 Jerry
3 Glen
4 Jim
5 Chicken Fried
6 Simeon
7 Brown
8 Anne
9 White
10 Sidney
11 Tony
12 A-Roni
99 Rashee
999 Ray
Sandy @NYYSandyWE LOVE YOU BEN RICE
ESG @ESG___Where were you when Ben rice saved the season
blueshirtsdaily @newyorkstyle24Ben rice really saved the season
c @Cmoney_269Ben rice breakout game pic.twitter.com/kJSAKZsK3Z
πͺππ±π± @_SelfMadeMattBen Rice that’s my first baseman π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯ #RepBx
Travis Achesinski @travis_yankeesif ben rice is the start of something for this yankees team to turn it around ill take it
Dillard Barnhart @BarnHasSpoken2Ben Rice is an incredibly likable guy. Him also being an absolute baller is the cherry on top.
LAdd McConkey @wyermushSafe to say Ben Rice earned his pinstripes today
The Yankees ended up winning 14-4 and moved to 55-36 and two-and-a-half games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first in the American League East.
New York has still endured a brutal month, but the spark Rice has provided could very well lead this team out of the doldrums and back to the winning ways the team experienced earlier this year.
