New York Yankees’ Ben Rice, left, celebrates with Aaron Judge, second from left, after hitting a grand slam during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Peter Casey)
New York Yankees’ Ben Rice runs toward first base after hitting a grand slam during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Peter Casey)
New York Yankees catcher Ben Rice, front left, celebrates with relief pitcher Camilo Doval (75), right, after defeating the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Peter Casey)
New York Yankees’ Ben Rice, left, celebrates with Aaron Judge, second from left, after hitting a grand slam during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Peter Casey)
BALTIMORE (AP) 鈥 Ben Rice and the New York Yankees are keeping the pressure on in the AL East.
Rice’s in the 10th inning lifted New York to over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Yankees remained two games behind first-place 海角社区官网鈥 and with the Blue Jays holding the head-to-head tiebreaker, New York can ill afford to lose more ground.
鈥淛ust happy with where the team’s at,鈥 Rice said. 鈥淕ot a chance to still take the division here, and have some important games coming up.鈥
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The Yankees won three of four at Baltimore, and now head home to face another last-place team 鈥 the Chicago White Sox 鈥 before hosting the Orioles to end the regular season.
It was one of the best games so far in Rice’s young career. The 26-year-old catcher, first baseman and designated hitter had his second four-hit game and drove in five runs.
鈥淗e had good swings all day, including the last one which was terrific,鈥 manager Aaron Boone said. 鈥淟eft-on-left bomb there, going the other way early, laying the barrel on it all day. Good job behind the plate there late.鈥
Rice has 24 home runs this year in his first full big league season. His RBI single in the sixth tied the game at 1.
Aaron Judge drew a walk to start the 10th, then Cody Bellinger’s single loaded the bases for Rice.
鈥淏ases loaded, no outs,鈥 Rice said. 鈥淛ust trying to get the guy from third in, so just try to get something elevated in the zone and get something in the air.鈥
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Rice hit a dribbler toward third that would have scored a run, but it would have also resulted in a forceout. That ball rolled foul, and he took advantage of another chance by clearing the bases with a drive to right-center field that put New York up 5-1. The Yankees then added two more in the inning.
鈥淚t’s exciting,鈥 Rice said. 鈥淛ust to come through in a spot like that was exciting.鈥
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