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    Video: Ben Rice Hits 3 HRs vs. Red Sox as Yankees Fans Hail Rookie as Unsung Hero

    Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 6, 2024

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 06: Ben Rice #93 of the New York Yankees reacts after a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium on July 06, 2024 in in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
    Luke Hales/Getty Images

    New York Yankees rookie first baseman Ben Rice hit three home runs on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, meriting a well-deserved curtain call from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

    "Definitely a day I'll never forget," Rice told reporters after the game.

    FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX

    Curtain call for the rookie Ben Rice πŸ‘ <a href="https://t.co/WRJ90hFHxh">pic.twitter.com/WRJ90hFHxh</a>

    Rice got the Yankees going with a leadoff homer off Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski.

    New York Yankees @Yankees

    Leadoff Launch 🍚 <a href="https://t.co/IOQTLVYlMp">pic.twitter.com/IOQTLVYlMp</a>

    Rice then added a three-run bomb off reliever Chase Anderson the fifth inning for a 10-4 Yankee lead.

    New York Yankees @Yankees

    Rice, Rice, Baby πŸ’ͺ <a href="https://t.co/vp96NRas1C">pic.twitter.com/vp96NRas1C</a>

    Two frames later, Rice smacked another three-run shot off Anderson to put the Yanks up 14-4.

    MLB @MLB

    Ben THRICE! <a href="https://t.co/0nYSXJs3yq">pic.twitter.com/0nYSXJs3yq</a>

    Rice made his MLB debut on June 18 and has been one of the Yankees' bright spots amid the team's 4-14 skid, posting a .971 OPS and recently getting the bump up to leadoff.

    Rice is the first Yankee rookie to ever hit three home runs in a game. He's also just the third rookie to hit three homers from the leadoff spot, according to MLB.com's Sarah Langs:

    Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports

    Ben Rice is the 3rd rookie with a 3-HR game from the leadoff spot, joining:<br><br>8/16/19 Mike Yastrzemski<br>8/1/09 Andrew McCutchen <a href="https://t.co/p6osOnxvrH">https://t.co/p6osOnxvrH</a>

    Rice has understandably been quite popular among Yankee fans.

    Video: Ben Rice Hits 3 HRs vs. Red Sox as Yankees Fans Hail Rookie as Unsung Hero
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    Kinky Paaa @esap_6

    This Ben Rice kid is insane

    VG @tw00mph

    He isn't Ben Rice. He is Ben Thrice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepBx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepBx</a> <a href="https://t.co/jsmRHhLSoQ">https://t.co/jsmRHhLSoQ</a>

    JMMY @jamesxlane

    Ben Rice what a spark of morale for this teamπŸ”₯

    Dean78904 @DFS_Almanac

    UPDATED RICE POWER RANKINGS<br><br>1 BEN<br>2 Jerry<br>3 Glen<br>4 Jim<br>5 Chicken Fried<br>6 Simeon<br>7 Brown<br>8 Anne<br>9 White<br>10 Sidney<br>11 Tony<br>12 A-Roni<br>99 Rashee<br>999 Ray

    Sandy @NYYSandy

    WE LOVE YOU BEN RICE

    ESG @ESG___

    Where were you when Ben rice saved the season

    blueshirtsdaily @newyorkstyle24

    Ben rice really saved the season

    c @Cmoney_269

    Ben rice breakout game <a href="https://t.co/kJSAKZsK3Z">pic.twitter.com/kJSAKZsK3Z</a>

    π”ͺπ”žπ”±π”± @_SelfMadeMatt

    Ben Rice that's my first baseman πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepBx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepBx</a>

    Travis Achesinski @travis_yankees

    if ben rice is the start of something for this yankees team to turn it around ill take it

    Dillard Barnhart @BarnHasSpoken2

    Ben Rice is an incredibly likable guy. Him also being an absolute baller is the cherry on top.

    LAdd McConkey @wyermush

    Safe to say Ben Rice earned his pinstripes today

    The Yankees ended up winning 14-4 and moved to 55-36 and two-and-a-half games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first in the American League East.

    New York has still endured a brutal month, but the spark Rice has provided could very well lead this team out of the doldrums and back to the winning ways the team experienced earlier this year.