Ben Rice spent Tuesday’s wildcard opener against his hometown Red Sox on the couch.
He didn’t wait long to make his presence feel in game 2.
Rice became Homer’s first Yankee in his first performance in the late season, since Shane Spencer did it in the Alds of 1998 against Texas when he took Boston right-handed Brayan Bello Deep for a two-run shot to the right to give up a 4-3 victory, because the Yankees nominates a game 3 in the stage.
“From a loss [Tuesday]To set the tone for us in the first inning, to get us to a lead, felt really good, “Rice said about his Homer First-Pitch.
It came after the Lefty-Swinging Rice did not play in Game 1, with Aaron Boone with Paul Goldschmidt at first base and Austin Wells behind the plate with Red Sox Southpaw Garrett Crochet on the hill.
“I know my role and [Tuesday] My role was to be ready for a big battle of the bank, “said Rice.” And [Wednesday]I started. The approach does not change. I’m just going to be prepared for every starting time that I get and every chance I get. “
That is a part of what is impressed by his teammates since Rice arrived in the Bronx.
“He hits the ball hard every time he arrives,” said Aaron Judge. “He has great battles and knows what he is looking for. If he gets his pitch, he doesn’t miss.”
Rice did that again in the third, when he came close to giving the Yankees a new lead after Boston had tied the game in the first half of the inning.
With runners on the second and third and two, Rice turned a field of left -handed Justin Wilson and hit a 109 MPH rocket, but it went directly to Nate Eaton in the right field to end the threat.
“I had a good amount of it this year,” said Rice. “So I thought, to be honest, it was a bit too fast, so it eventually went to them. It is clear that when you chat one, you think it will be a hit. But I saw that he didn’t have to move to catch it. That was difficult.”
A victory knew that, however, and Rice’s debut ended with a victory.
For Rice, who grew up a Yankee fan, despite the fact that it is a resident of Cohasset, Mass. Was, it was an ideal start to his career in the late season.
“It was incredible,” said Rice. “So cool. One, to be part of the rivalry, just given where I come from and where I grew up and so, it just makes it so much more special.”
And after appearing as one of the best Yankees -stroke people this season, Aaron Boone and his employees have to decide how to use it – even when they are confronted with a leffty.
“Benny plays [and] Swinging the bat so well, especially in the play, makes it difficult, “said Boone about his thinking process when putting together in the late season.
Rice makes it a good problem to have.
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