Rookie Ben Rice had a memorable day, hitting three home runs in the New York Yankees’ 14-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rice is the only rookie to smash three home runs in a single game for the Yankees.
“It’s definitely a day I’ll never forget,” Rice remarked postgame, according to MLB. “I’m just ecstatic that it was a big win for us, a good bounceback win, and against my hometown team.” So that’s very cool.
The 25-year-old rookie got the Yankees off to a great start by hitting a massive solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning.
“What a game, and obviously in the midst of what we’re going through, to come out and set the tone right away in the first inning with a homer and then put together a kind of legendary day,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after Rice’s performance.
“Just really big time.”
Rice extended the Yankees’ advantage to 10-4 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Rice’s remarkable performance was capped off in the seventh inning when he hit his third home run of the day and second three-run homer.
“He hit three in a day – something he’ll never forget and people over here probably watching will never forget,” Boone told reporters.
After hitting his third home run of the day, Rice was led out of the dugout to address the roaring spectators at Yankee Stadium.
Rice removed his helmet and waved to the adoring fans cheering on their growing star as he gave a curtain call, capping up a remarkable performance in which he became only the third rookie in MLB history to hit three home runs from the leadoff spot.
“Honestly, it was all happening so fast,” Rice remarked, according to the MLB. “I guess I was still high from hitting the home run. I was just walking through the dugout when I heard everyone calling for me to do something. I had no idea what they were talking about, but as they carefully walked me to the steps, I was like, “Oh, guy. A curtain call. “That is pretty cool.”
