Ben Rice Powers Yankees to 11-4 Win Over Rays

Rice’s Two‑Homer Night Propels Yankes Past Tampa Bay

Ben Rice erupted with two home runs, turning a tense bullpen battle into a 11‑4 dismantling of the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. The Yankees needed every run after a shaky start, and Rice’s power display provided the offensive spark that stretched the lead to a comfortable margin. His first homer came in the third inning, helping to ignite a six‑run rally that keyed the game’s momentum.

Midway through the contest, Max Schuemann’s leadoff double set the stage for Ryan McMahon’s follow‑up hit, driving in the go‑ahead runs. Trent Grisham added a timely single, later plated by Rice as the first baseman launched his second home run of the night. The Yankees built a 6‑0 cushion in that third inning, the most they’d scored in a half‑inning since a road win over the White Sox nearly a month ago.

Drew Rasmussen struggled mightily for Tampa, failing to record three full innings in his worst start against the Yankees. Junior Caminero’s solo shot gave the Rays their only early lead, but the Yankees responded with the big third‑inning burst. Cam Booser’s relief stint featured a Jazz Chisholm Jr. sacrificial fly, the third of the season for the second baseman.

The Yankees bullpen kept the game under control after the initial surge, though several relievers faced tight situations. Jake Bird concocted a double‑play gem after the Rays loaded the bases, and Ryan Yarbrough surrendered a double that trimmed the deficit to 6‑3. Camilo Doval later stood tall, preserving the lead with a quick inning that ended with Jazz’s defensive gem.

Rice added insult to injury in the sixth with a three‑run homer that pushed the score to 10‑3, but the fun wasn’t over. Chandler Simpson’s second triple of the game brought him home, and a misplay by Jasson Domínguez in right field allowed the Rays a brief chance, which Brent Headrick quashed again. The Yankees’ late‑inning offense stayed alive as Ryan McMahon and Joc Bellinger drove in runs in the seventh and eighth frames.

Angel Chivilli was the only reliever to pitch a clean inning down the stretch, securing a stress‑free finish for Aaron Boone’s club. The Yankees close the four‑game set with a split, now shifting focus to a matchup against the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET, where left‑handers Ryan Weathers and Carson Palmquist will face off.