Against a lefty in Game 1, Ben Rice didn’t get an at-bat.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone — in one of his questionable decisions Tuesday night — opted to keep Rice’s 26 homers and .836 OPS on the bench against Red Sox southpaws Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman. If Rice could’ve sparked a lineup that struggled for most of the night, he never got the chance to showcase it.
But against a right-handed pitcher in Game 2, with Boone putting him back into the cleanup spot of the Yankees’ order, Rice drilled a pitch from Brayan Bello over the right-field fence for a home run.
Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts to the dugout after he hits a two-run home run. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cody Bellinger had kept the inning alive with a two-out single up the middle, and one pitch later, Rice put the Yankees up 2-0 in the bottom of the first to start Game 2 of their wild-card series. against the Red Sox.
Rice had carved out a significant role in the Yankees’ lineup at both first base and catcher, eventually setting up a situation where he could split time with both Paul Goldschmidt and Austin Wells.
Yankees first baseman Ben Rice connects on a two run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning. JASON SZENES/ NY POSTHis bat, and the power every swing contained, became an indispensable part of their lineup.
And with one swing Wednesday, and one ball that sailed over Nate Eaton’s head 106.6 mph off the bat, Rice issued an emphatic reminder of his importance.
Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after he scores on his two-run home run. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostCarlos Rodón, who dazzled in the first inning with his slider, had some run support.
