Ben Rice Scripts Yankees’ Postseason History Against Red Sox in Game 1 Win

Massachusetts native Ben Rice homered twice for the New York Yankees in their 9-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1.

Ben Rice Scripts Yankees’ Postseason History Against Red Sox in Game 1 Win

Ben Rice (Image via X/@Yankees)

In a rematch of the 2025 American League Wild Card Series, the New York Yankees struck first, winning Game 1, 9-0, against the Boston Red Sox. Ben Rice scripted franchise postseason history, emerging as the offensive hero.

The Yankees entered the game on Tuesday without their superstar Aaron Judge. The 3-time AL MVP, who was hoping to be on the Wild Card roster, was excluded from the team following his recent health issues. This marked the first time in his postseason career that Judge had missed a postseason game.

In his absence, Rice took over the responsibility just as he did in the regular season. The 27-year-old hit 2 home runs, including a grand slam, to help the Bronx Bombers pick up a 9-0 victory.

His first home run came in the 5th inning after the Red Sox pulled Payton Tolle. With the Yankees leading 1-0 and having 2 outs, Rice crushed a solo home run to center field to extend his team’s lead.

A bases-loaded single in the 7th inning made it a 3-0 game and put the Yankees in control. He got another bases-loaded situation in the 8th inning.

This time he left the yard. While being a triple shy of the cycle, he smashed the ball into right-center field for a grand slam off Brayan Bello and blew the game wide open.

The first baseman/catcher/designated hitter went 4-for-5 with a single, double, and 2 home runs and had 6 RBIs. He thus became the first Yankees star to record 6 or more RBIs with 4 or more hits in a single postseason game.

From the mound, it was Cam Schlittler who once again dominated the Red Sox. The right-handed pitcher threw 117 pitches in 6.1 innings, picking up 10 strikeouts and giving up just two hits. These strong performances from the Massachusetts-born duo helped the Yankees take Game 1 over the Red Sox.

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Ben Rice claims there is nothing better for the Yankees than beating the Red Sox in a postseason game

The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox added another chapter on Tuesday night with a second straight AL Wild Card Series matchup. The Yankees picked up a 9-0 win thanks to two Massachusetts natives, Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler. In the press conference, the hitter claimed that there was nothing better than beating the Red Sox in a postseason game.

Ben Rice
Ben Rice (Image via X/@BRWalkoff)

In the regular season, both teams traded heavy blows left and right, with the Yankees going 7-6 against their division rivals. In the first game of the Wild Card, they struck first and took a 1-0 lead, putting all the pressure on the Boston-based side.

While reacting to this win, Rice called it an “awesome night” for him and Schlittler, as they tormented their hometown team with dominant performances.

I’ll remember getting a ‘W’ versus the Red Sox, there’s nothing better than that. I’ll remember Cam going out there and just being lights-out, like he always is. It was an awesome night.

Ben Rice told the reporters as per MLB.com

The Yankees will have Max Fried take the mound in Game 2 of this series. In MLB history, only 3 teams have come back from a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-three Wild Card Series to go through the Division Series.

The Yankees were one of them. After losing Game 1 last year against the Red Sox, they won Games 2 and 3 and knocked out their rivals from the postseason. The winners of this series will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the best-of-five ALDS.

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