Not knowing where to go for a curtain call is something to laugh about at dinner. For Ben Rice, it's what the team hopes he can figure out as often as possible. Cageside Seats contributing writer Tom Van Dam breaks down film for the PSA once again, in hopes of future writing consideration.
When you see a final score of 14-4 in baseball, it seems like an easy day at the office from afar. For two teams going inexact opposite directions, after a Rafael Devers home run off of starter Gerrit Cole made it 4-3 Boston and knocked the Yankees ace out in the fifth, frustration ruled a piece of the home dugout. However, Ben Rice became the first Yankee rookie to hit three home runs in a game ever, driving in seven to make it an easy day at the office for a team searching for a good feeling.
"They kind of wore him out a little bit, " said manager Aaron Boone, as relieved afterwards as he was slightly concerned in the moment when two bloop hits to short left field off of Cole took a 3-1 Yankee lead away in the top of the third inning. Third baseman DJ Lemahieu was just out of reach of both, good pitches that just got hit enough to evade the veteran. Cole wasn't happy with the strike zone governed by umpire Alfonso Marquez, although he was this close on a fair share of pitches in crucial early spots where Boston was able to take advantage.
New York once again started the hot rookie first baseman Rice and led him off against Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski After Gerrit Cole had a very effective first inning, the youngster deposited a 2-2 cutter into the seats for a 1-0 lead, providing more of the spark that he's brought the team since injuries decimated the team offensively once again.
Devers tied it up in the 3rd with a hard hit ball in front of Aaron Judge that scored David Hamilton when his throw from right was a touch behind. Jose Trevino tried to swing his glove hand to catch the shortstop, but a good slide was all that was necessary. Boston wasn't done, but neither was Bennie's Bombers. "Extra stock because I'm from Boston," said Rice, the star of the day, "I've got a lot of friends that root for the Sox."
The seven run fifth inning the Bomber's put up was a collective sigh of relief for a team struggling to put quality at-bats together with any regular success over the 5-15 stretch the former American League East leaders have provided, where the record was not only the worst in the sport, and four runs over 4 1/3 by their ace didn't give anyone's stomach cause for relief. The bullpen, maligned after a rough night by Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle were bit by the long ball last night in a heartbreaking ten inning loss, tossed 4 2/3 innings of one hit ball to send the home team off to a nice Saturday night dinner. Tim Hill (2-0, 4.86) struck out one in relief of Cole, and Josh Maciejewski performed his "Magic" over the final two, striking out four and allowing only one hit.
Orlando Cabrera covered second base for Gleyber Torres, going 2 for 2 with a run, a sacrifice and a sac fly for his 27th RBI, batting eighth, while LeMahieu had a needed strong day out of the unfamiliar nine hole, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two more driven in. The only Yankee in the starting lineup without a hit was the AL All-Star Game starting outfielder Juan Soto, with an 0 for 5 as the designated hitter with a whiff. Alex Verdugo hit a homer as a part of a 2 for 5 day, also scoring twice with two ribbies. Judge was also 2 for 5, scoring twice and just being that really big guy. Trevino added an early double, and aided Rice in finding the steps so Rice could get the cheers from 45,504 fans at Yankee Stadium.
Last night's bobblehead giveaway George Costanza nods his head In approval one day later, because yes fans, your Rice is ready for serving.
Leave a rec for Tom Van Dam as he hopes to do regular pieces on Bennie's Bombers, including a regular spot on the memorabilia collecting of the Yankees he's been doing since he was eight, a summer reading series on underrated Yankee books, and a "Dark Side Of the Diamond" series on some notorious Bronx Bombshells that made the headlines in their day.
Follow Tom Van Dam on X @TomVanDam769505, his Facebook page, and other various places I might end up. For some of the best writing about wrestling you can find, stop by sister site Cageside Seats, where I've taught people crisis management over storylines since 2018, and...
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