Ben Rice SLAM Wins It! NY 7 Baltimore 1 in 10 Innings

September 22, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0
Ben Rice Grand Slam in the top of the 10th. Rice went 4-5 on the day, driving in the 1st Yankee run to tie game 1-1 in 6th.

Ben Rice hit a Grand Slam in the top of the 10th to put the Yankees up 5-1 en route to a 7-1 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards on a beautiful, 70-degree Sunday afternoon — enabling them to take 3 of 4 in the series.

NY piled on after the slam — with Jazz Chisholm Jr. stoking a HR to right for good measure, and Anthony Volpe singling in a run to make it 7-1 after a Jose Caballero double and Paul Goldschmidt walk.

Camilo Doval got 2 quick outs in the bottom of the 10th, but then walked 2 guys to load the bases (with the inherited runner) before getting a final strikeout. The Yanks got stellar pitching from starter Cam Schlittler and relievers Tim Hill, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, and David Bednar.

But the star of the game was Ben Rice — who had 4 hits, including a clutch 2-out single in the 6th that tied the game 1-1 against Kyle Bradish, who was pitching a 1-hit shutout at the time.

“He had good swings all day, including the last one which was terrific,” said Manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Rice. “Left-on-left bomb there. Going the other way early; laying the barrel on it all day; good job behind the plate there late. Obviously to finish it off. A good one today; two starting pitchers that were on their game. Kept the offense in check, and fortunately we were able to win — guys put up some really great at bats there in the end.”

NY improves to 88-68 and remains 2 behind Toronto but pulls to 3 ahead of Boston for the lead wildcard with 6 games to go. Baltimore falls to 73-83.

(Since Toronto won the season series and owns the tiebreaker, the Yanks have to finish a game ahead of them in the standings to win the division, so are really 3 back. Same with Boston — the Yanks must finish a game ahead of them to gain the lead wildcard, so are effectively 2 games up.)

1. Schlittler Great

Cam Schlittler was coming off a start where he had a 10-1 lead in the 5th, but couldn’t get the 3rd out of the inning — getting too picky and walking batters after allowing a 2-run HR.

This time he came out attacking the strike zone and throwing strikes — 100-MPH strikes with his easy motion delivery.

He struck out the side to begin the game in the bottom of the 1st, allowed but a 2-out double in the 2nd, then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd and 4th.

But catcher Basallo hit the first pitch of the 5th — an 81-MPH curve — for a 420-foot HR to right and Baltimore had a 1-0 lead.

Schlittler retired the rest of the side in the 5th, then — after the Yanks tied the game 1-1 in the top of the 6th — allowed a leadoff single to Jackson Holliday in the bottom of the 6th, got a fielder’s choice groundout and was relieved at 89 pitches.

Tim Hill came in to get the next 2 batters and keep the score 1-1.

Schlittler’s line: 5.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 6 K’s, 1 walk. His slash line is now 3-3 3.27.

2. Bradish Great Too in Pitchers’ Duel

Meanwhile Kyle Bradish was light’s out for Baltimore — pitching a 1-hit shutout through 5 innings. The only hit — a single by Ben Rice leading off the 2nd.

The 6’3, 28-year-old Bradish came into his own in 2023 with a 12-7 2.83 season before having to undergo Tommy John surgery that kept him out of most of 2024 and a good portion of this year. He returned on August 26th — this was his 5th start since then.

Bradish pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th and 5th and was mowing the Yanks down on 1 hit into the 6th.

3. Rice Ties It with Clutch 2-Out Hit in 6th

But in the 6th, Trent Grisham worked a 1-out walk, and then Bradish hit Aaron Judge with a 1-1 sinker.

Cody Bellinger hit a shot that was caught on a line drive at shortstop so there were 2 outs, and runner on 1st and 2nd when Ben Rice got a Clutch single to left for a 1-1 tie.

4. Hill Good; Cruz Gets Into Trouble

Tim Hill got the last 2 outs of the 6th for Schlittler, then got the 1st out of the 7th in a 1-1 tie — when he was relieved by Fernando Cruz to face righties.

Cruz walked Jeremiah Jackson before striking out Colton Cowser for the 2nd out.

But Coby Mayo singled putting runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs in the 1-1 game.

5. Weaver HUGE Out with Bases Loaded in 7th

In came Luke Weaver to face Dylan Carlson. Weaver got ahead in the count 1-2, but then walked Carlson on 3 straight balls. With bases loaded, 2 outs in a 1-1 game — Weaver got Holiday to ground out to 1st — Weaver covering to take the throw from Goldschmidt. PHEW.

6. Devin Fantastic

The Yanks returned the favor — loading the bases after 2 were out in the top of the 8th against Rico Garcia — a Ben Rice double, Jasson Dominguez infield single, and intentional walk to Jazz Chisholm Jr. — but Jose Caballero grounded out.

And so it was to the bottom of the 8th in the 1-1 nailbiter.

And Devin Williams struck out the side — to keep it 1-1.

7. Bednar Great

Kade Strowd returned the favor — striking out the Yankee side in the top of the 9th.

David Bednar didn’t blink — pitching a shutout bottom of 9th — allowing but a 2-out walk to Colton Cowser but striking out Coby Mayo.

8. RICE SLAM & Yanks Add-On in 10th!

Strowd came out again for the 10th with the inherited runner on 2nd. He went 3-0 against Aaron Judge — then threw 2 strikes — before walking Judge on a 3-2 count with a 97-MPH fastball that was low.

Keegan Akin came in to pitch — and Cody Bellinger greeted him with a single to left, loading the bases with nobody out.

And then Ben Rice delivered — a GRAND SLAM to right for a 5-1 Yankee lead!

NY wasn’t done. After Keegan Akin struck out Austin Slater, Jazz Chisholm Jr. ripped a solo HR to right for a 6-1 NY lead.

Yaramil Hiraldo came in to pitch — and Jose Caballero greeted him with a double to center. Paul Goldschmidt walked, and Anthony Volpe ripped a single to left for a 7-1 NY lead.

9. Doval Gets In & Out of Jam to Finish

Camilo Doval pitched the bottom of the 10th — getting a line out to right and a foul out down the line behind 3rd — a Tremendous over-the-shoulder catch by shortstop Jose Caballero — to begin the inning — keeping the inherited runner at 2nd.

But with 2 outs, Doval walked Dylan Beavers and Gunnar Henderson to load the bases — then went 3-1 on Ryan Mountcastle — before coming back with a 98-MPH cutter and a 96-MPH cutter to strike out Mountcastle swingin for the old ballgame.

Etcetera

In the batting race:

  • Aaron Judge went 0-4 with a walk and hit-by-pitch. His average drops to .326.
  • Jacob Wilson went 0-4 — his average drops to .315.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401697236

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