The New York Yankees opened their American League Wild Card Series with a 9-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, and designated hitter Ben Rice was at the center of the offensive explosion. The 27-year-old went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, an RBI single and six RBIs.
Rice's performance included a grand slam that completed New York's scoring and helped produce the Yankees' largest shutout postseason victory since the 1960 World Series. His six RBIs also matched the franchise single-game postseason record.
Following New York's win, infielder Anthony Volpe discussed Rice's big night.
“It was pretty incredible, if I'm being honest,” Volpe said. “But I don’t think anyone is surprised. That’s just what he does.”
Rice entered the postseason following a breakout 2026 campaign in which he hit 41 home runs and logged an .897 OPS. He hit eight more home runs than he did in his first two major-league seasons combined. He also became the sixth player in MLB history and the first Yankees player to record at least four hits and six RBIs in a postseason game.
New York entered the series without Aaron Judge, who was left off the Wild Card roster because of a calf injury. Rice provided the power the Yankees needed while other young players also contributed. George Lombard Jr. posted three hits in his postseason debut, and Austin Wells drove in two runs from the No. 9 spot.
Article Continues BelowRice’s night meant a little more because of his ties to Boston. He grew up in Massachusetts as a Yankees fan around 45 minutes from Fenway Park. He attended Dartmouth before New York selected him in the 12th round of the draft.
His success came alongside another Massachusetts native, Cam Schlittler, who once again dominated his hometown team. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out 10 over six scoreless innings before leaving in the seventh with the Yankees ahead 2-0.
Schlittler threw 117 pitches, tying his career high and marking the most by a postseason pitcher in franchise history since CC Sabathia threw 120 and 121 pitches in consecutive 2012 starts. He generated a career-high 24 swing-and-misses.
Schlittler has now allowed just two earned runs across 38 career innings against the Red Sox, producing a 0.47 ERA with 49 strikeouts in six starts.
New York will return to Yankee Stadium for Game 2 on Wednesday night, with a win sending the Yankees to a best-of-five Division Series against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays.