Home / Sports / Yankees Rookie Shines in Decisive Wild Card Game Against Red Sox
Yankees Rookie Shines in Decisive Wild Card Game Against Red Sox
2 Oct
Summary
- Ben Rice starts in Yankees' lineup for crucial Game 3 against Red Sox
- Rice homers and has 2 hits in Yankees' 4-3 win on Wednesday
- Rookie pitcher Connelly Early strikes out 11 in Red Sox's Game 1 win

On October 3rd, 2025, the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox in the decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series. Yankees rookie Ben Rice was in the starting lineup, a change from the series opener where he did not start against left-hander Garrett Crochet.
In the Yankees' 4-3 win on October 2nd, Rice made the most of his opportunity, homering on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Brayan Bello and adding two hits, including a 109.4 mph lineout. This came after Red Sox rookie Connelly Early had struck out 11 and allowed just four hits in a dazzling 7 2/3-inning performance in Boston's 3-1 win in the series opener on October 1st.
During the regular season, Rice batted .255 with 26 home runs and 65 RBIs in 138 games, finishing strong with a .316 average in his final 22 games. The Yankees will now look to Rice and the rest of their lineup to continue their momentum and advance past their longtime rivals in the decisive Game 3.