Top-Hitter Ben Rice Supports Top-Pitcher Will Warren. NY 7 Baltimore 2

May 2, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Ben Rice 3-run HR in 2nd puts NY ahead 5-1.

Ben Rice — one of the top hitters in baseball — went 2 for 5 including a 3-run HR to back another amazing start by Will Warren — one of the top pitchers in baseball — as NY beat Baltimore 7-2 on a Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

Warren pitched 6.1 innings allowing only 3 hits and 1 earned run, striking out 9 and walking 1. He won to go 4-0 2.39 on the season. He is tied for 2nd in the AL in wins, and 7th in ERA.

Rice’s 3-run HR broke the game open in the 2nd inning, giving NY a 5-1 lead.

Rice is now slashing 11-26-.330 (.441 OBP; 1.069 OPS). He leads MLB in OPS, is 2nd in the MLB in OPB, and is 4th in the AL in batting, 4th in HR’s, and 3rd in RBI’s.

The Yanks got early offense via an RBI double by Cody Bellinger in the 1st inning, scoring Aaron Judge, and a solo HR by Jose Caballero earlier in the 2nd.

The Yanks got insurance runs in the 7th and 8th on RBI singles by Amed Rosario and Aaron Judge, respectively.

Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird wrapped up with shutout relief.

“They say he’s the guy we haven’t talked about — the body of work starting from jump in Spring training has just been excellent over and over again,” said manager Aaron Boone about Warren. “The stuff’s been excellent; the strike throwing is there. Was just in command (tonite). 9 strikeouts. You see all the swing and miss. He did a great job of using the sinker in combination with that 4 seamer, the sweeper looked good; mixed in the change well. Just another really strong performance.”

NY improves to 21-11, in 1st place in the East by 1.5 games over Tampa. Baltimore falls to 15-17.

1. Bellinger Plates Fleet-Footed Judge in 1st

The Orioles didn’t name their starter until just before game time — and started 26-year-old, 6’3 lefty Cade Povich.

He got the first 2 batters of the game, but walked Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger ripped a 2-out double down the right field line — scoring Aaron Judge who FLEW around the bases and slid in SAFE for a 1-0 Yankee lead.

2. Caballero and Ben Rice HR’s Put NY Up 5-1

The Orioles tied the game in the top of the 2nd on a Pete Alonso HR off Warren — but Jose Caballero got the Yanks right back on top with a line drive HR into the left field seats with 1 out in the bottom of the 2nd. NY 2 Baltimore 1.

Rice 3-Run HR Makes It 5-1

Lefty Povich struck out lefty Austin Wells for the 2nd out of the inning, but lefty Trent Grisham ripped a 2-out double, and righty Paul Goldschmidt worked a walk to put 2 runners on for lefty Ben Rice — who RIPPED a 3-run HR to right for a 5-1 Yankee lead.

3. Warren Fantastic

Warren was fantastic — but did allow 2 long balls early. In between striking out 2 in the 1st, Taylor Ward hit a drive to the wall in right that Aaron Judge made a tremendous leaping catch on, saving a HR.

Judge Great Catch in 1st

Alonso Greets NY with HR

But in the top of the 2nd, former Met Pete Alonso led off with a HR to right to tie the game 1-1. Alonso is one of 3 top Met players who were let go or traded by Mets owner Steve Cohen reportedly for being pro Trump, the others being Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.

Warren’s Fastballs

After the Alonso HR, Warren threw shutout ball into the 7th and was absolutely fantastic, allowing only 3 hits, striking out 9 with 1 walk.

“Warren throws his fastballs almost 70 percent of the time,” noted YES analyst Jack Curry after the game. “If you want to know how a pitcher is doing watch some of the swings or I should say non-swings that he gets from hitters. 75 called 3rd strikes since the end of last season, that’s the most in MLB. That tells you that batters are not picking up the baseball on him. So whether it’s the 2-seamer that has arm-side movement, and 4-seamer that has ride to it, he gets extension, he gets spin, and even his arm angle works in his favor.”

Warren’s Sweeper Is FILTHY

YES Analyst Bob Lorenz added that “the other dazzling fact about Warren is the amount of break his sweeper gets”, and Curry elucidated: “17 inches of movement. The plate itself is 17 inches. So if he’s got 17 inches of movement going left to right with his sinker, his 3rd most popular pitch his his sweeper, which he gets 17 inches of movement going the other direction.”

4. Cruz Saves Warren in 7th

Warren walked Pete Alonso with 1 out in the 7th, then allowed a single to catcher Samuel Basallo that Grisham misplayed in centerfield, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

Fernando Cruz came in and got a groundout (to Dylan Beavers for a run), and fly out to end the inning, stranding a runner on 3rd. NY 5 Baltimore 2.

5. Rosario Insurance RBI Single in 7th

The Yanks got an insurance run off reliever Albert Suarez in the bottom of the 7th — with 2 outs, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger worked back-to-back walks, and Amed Rosario singled in Judge.

6. Judge Insurance RBI Single in 8th

The Yanks got another insurance run in the bottom of the 8th off reliever Tyler Wells. Austin Wells led off the inning with a single, and after 2 flyouts Ben Rice singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.

Aaron Judge then singled up the middle for a 7-2 Yankee lead.

7. Doval and Bird Wrap Up

Camilo Doval looked good in the 8th — a 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts.

And Jake Bird looked good in the 9th — strike out, ground out, walk to Pete Alonso, and ground out for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401815157

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