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Ben Rice Powers Yankees to 12-8 Victory Over Cardinals

The New York Yankees triumphed over the St. Louis Cardinals in a high-scoring affair on Saturday night, winning 12-8. Ben Rice stole the spotlight with a remarkable performance, driving in seven runs, while Aaron Judge also contributed with a home run and two RBIs.

Yankees’ Early Offense

The Yankees wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, quickly capitalizing on Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray’s shaky start. Trent Grisham led off the game with a single, followed by Rice drawing a walk. Judge then delivered an RBI double, and Jasson Dominguez added an RBI single to give New York an early lead.

Rice’s Historic Night

Rice’s standout moment came in the fourth inning when he launched a three-run home run into right-center, putting the Yankees ahead 6-5. The 429-foot blast registered at 108.3 mph off the bat and marked a career high in RBIs for Rice.

Judge Continues to Shine

In the third inning, Aaron Judge showcased his power by hitting a 396-foot homer, marking his 39th of the season. His offensive contributions helped solidify the Yankees’ lead as they continued to pile on the runs.

Fried Struggles on the Mound

Max Fried, who started for the Yankees, faced challenges throughout the game. Despite allowing a run in the first inning, he struck out five of the next twelve batters. However, his night ended after yielding a three-run homer to Masyn Winn in the second inning, contributing to his struggles with a 7.20 ERA over his last six starts.

Strong Bullpen Performance

The Yankees’ bullpen stepped up, with Devin Williams striking out the side in the sixth inning and Yerry De Los Santos adding two strikeouts in two innings of work. In the ninth, David Bednar came in to secure the save after a brief scare, finishing the game with a pop-up.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, the Yankees improved their record to 66-57, winning six of their last nine games. They remain 2.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild card spot. The Yankees will look to complete the three-game sweep of the Cardinals in Sunday’s afternoon matchup.

Upcoming Matchup

Will Warren is set to take the mound for the Yankees, while the Cardinals will counter with right-hander Miles Mikolas. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.