The Yankees broke out of their slump against the Red Sox on Saturday, and rookie first baseman Ben Rice played the starring role.
Batting leadoff, Rice made franchise history in just his 17th big-league game with three home runs in a 14-4 win, becoming the first Yankees rookie to hit three home runs in a game.
Rice hit a lead-off home run six pitches into the game and followed it with a three-run blast to give the Yankees a 10-4 fifth-inning advantage.
He etched his name into Yankees franchise history in the seventh inning with another three-run bomb to put New York up by 10.
The Yankees (55-36) entered Saturday reeling, losers of four straight and 5-15 since June 13, the league’s worst record.
“Yeah I mean.. it’s humbling, honestly,” Rice said on the field after the game. “Knowing how many legends have worn this jersey before me,” he continued.
When asked if he was aiming for a third home run when he stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning, he revealed, “No, never. I never do… It’s always just go up there and hit the ball hard.”
Rice finished the game 3-of-5 and drove in seven runs.
He began Saturday with one home run and five runs batted in his first 55 plate appearances (46 at-bats).
Rice began the season in double-AA with the Somerset Patriots. There, he hit .261 with 12 home runs. He was promoted to triple-AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 5 and hit .333 with three home runs and a .440 on-base percentage in 11 games with the RailRiders.
Following his historic third home run on Saturday, Rice took a deserved curtain call in front of euphoric Yankees fans.
“That’s a moment I’ll never forget. It was special,” Rice shared afterward. “That’s not something you get to do often.”
