Why was Ben Rice benched in Game 1 against the Red Sox?

Ben Rice, the Yankees' slugger, did not get an at-bat in Game 1 against the Red Sox, despite his impressive stats of 26 home runs and an .836 OPS this season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the questionable decision to keep Rice on the bench against the Red Sox's left-handed pitchers.

What role has Ben Rice played for the Yankees this season?

Ben Rice has carved out a significant role in the Yankees' lineup, splitting time between first base and catcher. His powerful bat has become an indispensable part of the Yankees' offense, and his performance in Game 2 served as a reminder of his importance to the team.

Home / Sports / Slugger Ben Rice Sits Out Game 1, Blasts Game 2 Homer for Yankees

Slugger Ben Rice Sits Out Game 1, Blasts Game 2 Homer for Yankees

Q: How did Ben Rice perform in Game 2 for the Yankees?

In Game 2, with Boone putting him back into the cleanup spot, Ben Rice drilled a pitch from Brayan Bello over the right-field fence for a 2-run homer, putting the Yankees up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

2 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Ben Rice didn't get an at-bat in Game 1 against lefty pitchers
Rice hit a 2-run homer in Game 2 to put the Yankees up 2-0
Rice has carved out a significant role in the Yankees' lineup

Slugger Ben Rice Sits Out Game 1, Blasts Game 2 Homer for Yankees

On October 2nd, 2025, the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card series. In Game 1, Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a controversial decision to keep slugger Ben Rice on the bench, despite Rice's impressive stats of 26 home runs and an .836 OPS this season. Boone opted not to use Rice against Red Sox southpaws Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman, a decision that left many questioning his strategy.

However, in Game 2 the following day, Boone put Rice back into the cleanup spot, and the move paid off. With Cody Bellinger keeping the inning alive with a two-out single, Rice stepped up and drilled a pitch from Brayan Bello over the right-field fence for a 2-run homer, putting the Yankees up 2-0 in the bottom of the first.