Ben Rice gets 100% real about Aaron Judge’s ‘crazy’ work

It might’ve cost him a pair of bruised knees, but Ben Rice made sure his Sunday was worth it. The Yankees’ rookie catcher/designated hitter was plunked twice — once on each leg — during New York’s 12-2 dismantling of the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. But pain turned to power in the fifth inning, when Rice crushed a grand slam over the right-field bullpen for his first career slam.

“Yes,” Rice laughed when asked if the homer eased the sting. “100%, yeah.”

Rice’s blast was part of a 15-hit barrage that helped New York take two of three from Oakland and push its record to 23-17. After dropping Saturday’s game in frustrating fashion, the Yankees bounced back with their best offensive display in weeks — and their MLB-best OPS and runs scored totals looked the part.

Aaron Judge continued his unreal stretch at the plate, going 4-for-5 and raising his batting average to a scorching .409. “(Another) day at the office for him,” Rice joked postgame. “It’s crazy. You sometimes catch yourself take it for granted what he’s doing, but it’s been so impressive to watch.”

The Yankees keep pushing forward

Ben Rice gets 100% real about Aaron Judge's 'crazy' work
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Yankees jumped on ex-teammate Luis Severino early, tagging him for eight earned runs across four-plus innings. The second inning was the backbreaker, as the Bombers piled up five runs behind RBI knocks from Anthony Volpe and Judge, plus a bases-loaded walk from Oswaldo Cabrera. Judge’s two-run single capped the rally.

“Having a day like that really helps everyone just relax and do their thing,” Judge said.

Related New York Yankees NewsArticle continues below

Rice was hit by a pitch in the second but returned in the fifth with a vengeance. Facing Mitch Spence in a 3-1 count, he sat on a cutter and demolished it 398 feet to give New York an 11-1 lead. Statcast tracked the exit velocity at 111.2 mph.

“I was looking for something up that I could drive,” Rice said. “Fortunately, I got into a good hitter’s count there, 3-1, and was able to put a good swing on it.”

Though he started the day as DH, Rice later shifted behind the plate for the ninth — his third appearance at catcher this year — to spell Austin Wells.

“It’s good to be as flexible as you can — make sure you can be plugged in wherever they need,” Rice said.

Judge added a hustle double and finished with two RBI. Paul Goldschmidt doubled three times and drove in two more, continuing a hot road stretch. He’s now hit safely in all 19 road games this year, joining Derek Jeter and Jack Lelivelt as the only Yankees to do that.

Ryan Yarbrough earned the win with five efficient innings of two-run ball, while Yerry De Los Santos and Tyler Matzek combined for four scoreless frames in relief. The Yankees now head to Seattle for a three-game set, beginning Monday night. Clarke Schmidt (0-1, 4.79 ERA) will take the mound looking to extend the team’s momentum.

Related Posts

🚨BREAKING: Yankees’ Aaron Boone just shut the door on one major trade possibility — and the message couldn’t be clearer. With one firm statement, Boone reshaped the conversation around New York’s offseason plans and signaled which path the front office will not take. The ripple effects are already being felt 👇👇👇

Aaron Boone Shuts the Door on a Major Yankees Trade Scenario — and Signals Confidence in the Rotation 4 For most of the winter, one theme followed…

🚨BREAKING: Cubs historical sleuthing takes a fascinating turn with the Starlin Castro–Tyler Colvin edition. Two very different paths, one pivotal era, and forgotten moments that quietly shaped Chicago’s trajectory more than fans realized at the time. Looking back now, the connections hit differently 👇👇👇

Cubs Historical Sleuthing: The Night Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin Waited in the Dark 4 Some baseball photographs scream action — a swing frozen in mid-air, a…

🔥 BREAKING the New York Mets are facing what insiders are calling a “holding penalty” for keeping a struggling player on the roster for another season, sparking a wave of speculation across fanbases as everyone tries to figure out why the Mets are sticking with a decision that could cost them on the field—and in the standings..ll 👇👇👇

There is nothing quite like watching a homegrown player bloom under the bright lights of the Major Leagues. Fans of the New York Mets know this feeling…

CARDINALS FANS, CLING TO THIS ONE GLIMMER OF HOPE — Amid the Painful Rebuild, a Hidden Sign Is Emerging That Could Turn St. Louis’ Dark Days Into the Dawn of a New Dynasty… and It’s Something You Won’t See Coming

Mar 7, 2019; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom looks on before a game against the Toronto Blue…

🔥 REPORT: Jараneѕe рhenom Rokі Sаѕаkі hаѕ ѕhocked the bаѕebаll world аѕ he begіnѕ crаftіng two brаnd-new ріtcheѕ to elevаte hіѕ gаme to the level demаnded by the Loѕ Angeleѕ Dodgerѕ.👇👇

The mound аt the Unіverѕіty of аrіzonа’ѕ bаѕebаll fіeld gleаmѕ under the deѕert ѕun аѕ Rokі ѕаѕаkі uncoіlѕ, hіѕ fаѕtbаll hummіng through the аіr. Juѕt dаyѕ before…

🔥 BREAKING: The Boѕton Red Sox hаve offіcіаlly flіррed the bаѕebаll world uрѕіde down аfter рullіng off а ѕtunnіng 3-for-1 blockbuѕter to lаnd аn All-Stаr wіth two full yeаrѕ of control.👇👇

Boѕton Red ѕox fаnѕ, buckle uр—your teаm juѕt рulled off the blockbuѕter move thаt’ѕ got the entіre MLB buzzіng! іn а jаw-droрріng 3-for-1 trаde wіth the Houѕton…