Ben Rice’s Two‑Home‑Run Day Powers Yankees Past Rays

Explosive Offense in Tampa

Ben Rice slammed two home runs to ignite a 12‑4 Yankees victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Thursday. His first homer, a deep drive in the third inning, required a replay review before it cleared the yellow line and landed in the front row of seats. The second shot, a three‑run blast in the sixth, flirted with the stingray tank behind center field.

Rice finished 2‑for‑4 with five RBIs and now boasts 28 home runs for the season. He moved past Rays infielder Junior Caminero, who also collected his 27th homer earlier in the game, putting Rice just one behind league leader Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros. Caminero’s solo shot was his first in his last five games, following an impressive 11‑home‑run run over 11 contests.

The Yankees’ DH also contributed a career‑boosting 65 RBIs, ranking third in the American League behind Alvarez and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz. His performance helped the Yankees split the four‑game series and stay within striking distance of Tampa Bay for the AL East crown.

Key Contributions and Box‑Score Highlights

Other Yankees hitters added crucial insurance runs, with Ryan McMahon driving in two, and Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, José Caballero and Austin Wells each scoring one. Wells’ RBI came on his fifth home run of the season, underscoring the Yankees’ depth beyond Rice.

For the Rays, starter Dennis Rasmussen crumbled early, surrendering six runs on seven hits in just 2 1⁄3 innings. Relief pitcher Casey Legumina added three more runs, while the Yankees’ Paul Blackburn and Jake Bird combined to limit the damage after the shaky start.

The Yankees’ offense exploded for 12 runs after an initially shaky defensive stretch, turning a potential tight contest into a lopsided win that kept their playoff hopes alive.

Standings Impact and Future Outlook

With the win, the Yankees improved to 51‑42 and remain four games behind the Rays (54‑37) atop the AL East. The split of the series keeps the race tight heading into the All‑Star break.

New York’s next challenge includes a three‑game tilt against the Washington Nationals, while Tampa Bay will host the Seattle Mariners in a three‑game set. Both teams will look to build on momentum as the first half of the season wraps up.

Rice’s home‑run surge and RBI total could prove pivotal if the Yankees aim to close the gap to Tampa Bay, especially with his timing aligning with the team’s need for clutch offense down the stretch.