"Big Rice" Launches Go-Ahead Homer, Yankees Score Five in the Ninth to Rout Blue Jays

During the final matchup of the three-game set between New York and Toronto, Ben Rice—known as "Big Rice"—belted a tie-breaking solo shot in the top of the ninth. The Yanks powered through with two home runs in the inning, scoring five times and ultimately beating the Blue Jays 8-3 for back-to-back wins.

In the top of the second, Anthony Volpe singled to put the Yankees on the board first. They sent seven batters to the plate, collecting four hits and scoring two runs. In the bottom of the third, with two outs and a runner on third, Kazuma Okamoto hit a grounder down the third-base line. The Yankees' third baseman made a nice play but then committed a throwing error, allowing the Blue Jays to score one run and putting Okamoto in scoring position, though he was eventually left stranded.

Over the third, fourth, and fifth innings, the Yankees managed just one hit. In the top of the sixth, Volpe singled with two outs and a runner on second, delivering his second RBI of the game on a two-hit night, giving New York a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Davis Schneider answered with a solo home run, tying the game 3-3.

In the top of the ninth, Rice hit a go-ahead two-run homer with one out and a runner on second. After two outs, Jose Caballero added a three-run blast, extending the lead to 8-3. In the bottom of the ninth, the Blue Jays briefly had runners on first and third with two outs, but were left stranded. Thanks to their five-run outburst in the top of the ninth, the Yankees won 8-3.