New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice ignited the Yankee Stadium crowd on Tuesday night by launching a grand slam that secured a 9-0 victory in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox.
Ben Rice Slams the Door on Boston in Game 1
Rice finished the night going 4-for-5 with four RBIs to cap off the five-run eighth inning.
A Bizarre Bullpen Collision in the Bronx
Amid the celebration, a bizarre moment unfolded in the right-center field bullpen when the baseball struck a New York bullpen catcher directly on the helmet on the fly. The eighth-inning blast traveled directly toward the Yankees’ bullpen area.
While bullpen pitchers frequently track down home run balls to make leaping catches, the unnamed bullpen catcher took a different approach as the crowd roared. Instead of attempting a catch with his glove or dodging the incoming projectile, the staff member stood motionless, absorbing the direct impact straight onto his protective mask and helmet without flinching or attempting to cushion the blow.
Cam Schlittler Dominates on the Mound
The definitive story of Game 1 belonged to starting pitcher Cam Schlittler. The Massachusetts native dominated on the mound for the Yankees, limiting Boston to just two hits and one walk while racking up 10 strikeouts across 6.1 scoreless innings.
Schlittler delivered the commanding performance New York required as the team’s primary weapon on the mound.
Methodical Attack Puts Red Sox on the Brink
The Yankees methodically built their lead before Rice broke the game open late. New York scratched across a run in the bottom of the second inning, doubled the advantage in the fifth, and tacked on two more runs in the seventh.
The dominant offensive and pitching display leaves the Red Sox facing elimination in the best-of-three series as they prepare to face Max Fried on the mound on Wednesday night.
Worth a look
