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For Ben Rice, it was an unforgettable day as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox.
CNN
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rookie Ben Rice had an unforgettable day, hitting three home runs in a 14-4 thumping of the New York Yankees. win They’ll face the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rice is the first rookie to hit three home runs in one game. game For the Yankees.
“It’s a day I’ll never forget,” Rice told MLB after the game. “It was a big win for us, a good come-from-behind win, and we’re excited to beat our hometown team, so it’s pretty cool.”
The 25-year-old rookie pitcher got off to an ideal start for the Yankees, hitting a huge solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning.
“What a game,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the game about Rice’s incredible day. “Obviously with the situation we’re in, he hit a home run in the first inning to set the tone and make for a legendary day.”
“It’s really amazing.”
Pamela Smith/AP
Rice hit three home runs in a 14-4 win over the Red Sox.
In the bottom of the fifth, Rice hit another huge three-run homer to give the Yankees a 10-4 lead.
Rice’s stellar performance culminated in the seventh inning, when he hit his third home run of the day and his second three-run homer.
“He got three hits in one day, it’s something he’ll never forget and probably the people watching here will never forget,” Boone added.
After hitting his third home run of the day, Rice, led by his more experienced teammates, emerged from the dugout to greet the cheering fans at Yankee Stadium.
Rice took off his helmet, waved to the rapt crowd watching his rising star for a curtain call, and celebrated his extraordinary performance by becoming just the third rookie in MLB history to hit three home runs as leadoff hitter.
“Honestly, it all happened so fast,” Rice told MLB. “I think I was still buzzing from hitting the home run. I was walking out the dugout and I heard guys yelling at me to do something. I didn’t even know what they were saying, but they slowly ushered me towards the stairs and I was like, ‘Wow, a curtain call. This is amazing.'”