Yankees’ Ben Rice Goes Deep in the Ninth — and a Rookie Keeps Carrying the Load

The ball hadn’t even landed before the Yankee Stadium crowd knew. Ben Rice turned on a pitch in the ninth inning Sunday, and the two-run homer sailed into the right-field seats like it had somewhere important to be. The blast gave New York a 4-3 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays — and set off a five-run rally that turned a tight game into an 8-3 blowout.

Rice finished with two hits and two RBIs. But the box score only tells part of the story. Since Aaron Judge went down with an injury, the rookie has become the most reliable bat in a Yankees lineup that needed someone — anyone — to step up.

A Late-Inning Spark That Changed Everything

The Yankees were trailing 3-2 when Rice stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. One swing later, they were ahead. Two batters after that, Jose Caballero launched a three-run homer of his own, breaking the game wide open. The inning ended with a five-run outburst that left the Blue Jays scrambling.

“Jose Caballero breaks this game open with a three-run homer. It’s a five-run 9th inning and the Yankees lead the Blue Jays, 8-3,” reporter Bryan Hoch posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

More Than Just a Power Surge

Rice isn’t just hitting home runs. He’s hitting them when they matter most. The rookie has been a steady producer during a stretch when the Yankees have leaned on depth to stay hot. New York improved to 43-27 with Sunday’s win, and Rice has been a big reason why the club hasn’t lost ground despite Judge’s absence.

The homer was the latest example of a player who looks increasingly comfortable in high-leverage spots. Rice doesn’t chase much. He doesn’t panic. He just keeps putting good swings on the ball — and the Yankees keep cashing in.

“This kid has ice in his veins,” one fan posted online. “He’s playing like he’s been here for years.”

The team has not confirmed a timeline for Judge’s return, but if Rice keeps producing, the Yankees won’t have to rush their captain back. For a club with World Series aspirations, that kind of luxury is exactly what they needed.