After a week of what appeared to be a case of the Yankees losing their way, Ben Rice stood up and said, I know the way. Rice put on a show, clobbering three home runs against the Red Sox and leading the Yankees to a 14-4 win over the Red Sox on a scorching Saturday at the Stadium. So, yea, forget the sushi on this hot day in July; give me a healthy portion of red hot Ben Rice.
Rice is a Dartmouth graduate from Massachusetts but grew up a Yankee fan. You could stop right there and I would be happy. But there is more. "Born and raised in Cohasset, Mass., the Yankees enthusiast — who mentioned he had “always been a huge Derek Jeter fan” — attended several Red Sox games growing up. “Any Yankees-Red Sox game at Fenway was a real treat,” the first baseman said. “Those were always the highlights because I felt like I knew every single player. I knew more on the Yankees than on the Red Sox," said Rice as reported by The New York Post.
Rice's three home runs and seven RBIs added his name to the Yankee history books. He is the first rookie to do that. He soaked it all up, taking a curtain call and just showing so much excitement, electrifying a crowd who have been watching their team fall apart over the last week.
The Red Sox broadcast reacting to a 3-homer day for Ben Rice pic.twitter.com/CVItTM6tKr
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) July 7, 2024
"The lights shine a little brighter at the Stadium. There’s a little bit more weight that you carry on your shoulders as a New York Yankee. Yeah, I would say I absolutely have the makeup to be able to play here, and again, it’s all I know, so I love it," said Rice as reported by The New York Post.
As YES Network Commentator Michael Kay said after the game, "we may be in the Rice era." He has brought the Yankees back to life, with the kind of life support this team really needed. When asked what he will remember about Saturday's game, "the curtain call, that was pretty cool." Nothing cool about this kid, except maybe his disposition. He has fire. And heart. And he has brought me back with three swift swings of the bat and the best smile I have seen in some time.
Right before Saturday's game, the YES Network talked a lot about the Yankees playing lackluster baseball and they shared a quote that bears repeating, "You can control effort." It is only fitting that the author of that quote was Ben Rice's favorite player growing up- Derek Jeter himself. I always said we all need mentorship, some older mentors and yes, some younger mentors. Well, Ben just mentored the slumping Yankee team with his energy, focus and rookie record setting three home runs game.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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