Ben Rice Powers Yankees Past Red Sox With Historic Playoff Performance
Ben Rice Powers Yankees Past Red Sox With Historic Playoff Performance
Ben Rice delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the 2026 MLB postseason on Tuesday, September 29, helping the New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox 9-0 in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Rice went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs. His biggest moment came in the eighth inning, when he launched a grand slam to center field to put the game out of reach. �
The performance was especially notable because the Yankees entered the series without Aaron Judge, who was left off the Wild Card roster because of a strained right calf. Rice stepped into the spotlight and provided much of New York's offensive production. �
Rice also drove in a run with a bases-loaded single earlier in the game. His six RBIs tied the Yankees' postseason record for RBIs in a single game, joining a group that includes Bobby Richardson, Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Canó. �
On the mound, Yankees starter Cam Schlittler held Boston scoreless while striking out 10 and allowing only two hits over 6⅓ innings. The combination of Schlittler's pitching and Rice's power gave New York a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. �
Rice's 2026 regular season had already been productive. He finished with 41 home runs and 97 RBIs, according to Baseball-Reference. �
With Game 2 next, attention now turns to whether Rice can continue producing at the plate as the Yankees try to advance.
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