Rice Rice Baby! And McMahon! NY 12 Tampa 4

July 10, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Ben Rice hits a 3-run HR in the 6th to make it a 10-3 game -- his 2nd HR of the day.

Ben Rice hit 2 HR’s — a 2-run HR in a 6-run 3rd inning, and a 3-run HR in the 6th to put the game away, as the Yankees torched the Rays 12-4 on a Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

The win allowed NY to tie the 4-game series 2-2, and pull back to 4 games behind Tampa in the AL East.

The Yanks were down 1-0 in the 3rd when Ryan McMahon worked a 12-pitch at bat against Ray’s ace Drew Rassmussen — fouling off 5 straight 2-2 pitches before doubling in Max Schuemann to tie the game 1-1. It was a turning point. Trent Grisham then doubled him home and Rice brought in everyone with the first of his 2 HR’s to make it 4-1. NY scored 2 more runs in the inning on singles by Jasson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger, and Jose Caballero to knock out Rasmussen and go up 6-1.

It was a bullpen day for the Yanks — and the Rays pulled back within 6-3 in the bottom of the 3rd on runs off Jake Bird — but an Austin Wells HR in the 4th made it 7-3, and the second of Rice’s HR’s — a 3-run job in the 6th — made it 10-3 NY.

McMahon later doubled in a run in the 7th to make it an 11-4 game.

The Yanks banged out 14 hits; 6 Yankee batters got 2 hits: Rice, McMahon, Grisham, Schuemann, Dominguez, and Bellinger.

Ryan Yarbrough got the win in relief.

“That’s baseball Suzyn,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Obviously a lot of really good At Bats against an outstanding pitcher who’s having a great year and who historically has been very tough on us. The great thing about it was it was everyone, starting in the 1st inning — we went 1-2-3 but Grisham hit the ball hard; Dominguez hit the ball hard. It was Shu that started the big inning with the big base hit then everyone contributed. Wellsy gets the guy over, a couple of big hits and Rice hits the money ball. When they would answer we had an answer too to add on and protect the lead. Really good day for us obviously with what we’ve been through. And hopefully it gets some guys settled and we can continue it this weekend.”

NY is now 51-42, 4 games back of Tampa which is 54-37.

1. Yanks Knock Out Rasmussen with with 6-Run 3rd

Paul Blackburn opened on this Bullpen Day for the Yankees. Blackburn used to be a starting pitcher with the Oakland A’s — and has been terrific out of the pen for NY this year.

He pitched the 1st and the 2nd — allowing a solo HR to Junior Caminero in the bottom of the 1st to make it 1-0 Tampa. It was Caminero’s 27th HR of the year — he has very similar stats to Ben Rice; the two are dueling for the AL MVP.

Caminero is slashing 27-57-.277 (.367 OBP). Rice is slashing 28-65-.275 (.366 OBP).

Meanwhile Tampa Ace Drew Rasmussen shut the Yanks down 1-2-3 in the 1st and 2nd innings — although as Boone said afterwards, the Yanks hit the ball hard on him in the 1st. Rasmussen came in at 7-4 2.78 and shut the Yanks down the last time he faced them. Another loss was looming for the Yanks.

But Max Schuemann led off the 3rd with a double to left. Then Ryan McMahon worked a 12-pitch at bat — fouling off 5 straight 2-2 pitches before doubling to right to tie the game 1-1. The turning point.

Austin Wells fouled out for the 1st out but Trent Grisham doubled home McMahon and it was 2-1 NY.

Ben Rice then hit a drive to right that just banged off the top of the wall for a HR — Rice was racing around the bases thinking it was in play when the 1st base ump started circling his finger for HR. NY 4 Tampa 1.

Next batter Jasson Dominguez reached on an infield single. Cody Bellinger reached on an infield single, and Jose Caballero singled in The Martian to make it 5-1 and send Rasmussen to the showers.

Tampa brought in Cam Booser to pitch — and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a sac fly for a 6-1 Yankee lead.

2. Rays Pull Back within 6-3 off Bird & Yarbrough

Not so fast Yankees.

It was a Bullpen Day remember, and NY brought in Jake Bird to pitch the bottom of the 3rd. He allowed a leadoff walk, single and single to load the bases with nobody out. A groundout by Caminero made it 6-2.

Ryan Yarbrough came in — and allowed a ground-rule double for a 6-3 game before getting the final out of the inning.

3. Wells HR in 4th Gives NY 7-3 Cushion

But Austin Wells gave the Yanks some cushion with a solo HR to right in the top of the 4th off Booser. NY 7 Tampa 3.

4. Rice’s 2nd HR Makes It 10-3 in 6th

Casey Legumina pitched a shutout 5th for Tampa — working around a walk, an intentional walk, and a hit-by-pitch. He stayed in for the 6th, and walked Austin Wells leading off the inning — NY up 7-3.

Trent Grisham followed with a double to right, and Ben Rice ripped a 422-foot HR to center for a 10-3 game.

5. McMahon & Bellinger Knock on Runs in 7th & 8th

Max Schuemann singled with 1 out in the 7th off Craig Kimbrel, then stole 2nd base and scored on a double to right by Ryan McMahon making it 11-4 NY.

Ben Rice walked leading off the 8th against Chris Roycroft. Jasson Dominguez followed with a single, and Cody Bellinger singled in Rice for a 12-4 Yankee lead.

6. Yank Bullpen Day Wins the Day

Yarbrough allowed a leadoff triple in the bottom of the 4th with NY up 7-3 — but managed to work out of it — getting 2 straight popups, then handing the ball to Camilo Doval who got the final out on a great play by Chisholm at 2nd and Bellinger at 1st.

Doval then had trouble in the 5th with NY up 7-3 — getting the 1st out but then allowing a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He was relieved by Brent Headrick who got 2 strikeouts to end the inning.

Headrick stayed in for the 6th — by this time NY was up 10-3. Headrick allowed a leadoff triple to Chandler Simpson then a single by Williamson for a 10-4 game, but managed to get through the inning with no further runs. He should have gotten the win — but the Official Scorer ruled Yarbrough’s performance the better one.

Chivilli Impressive

The most impressive Yankee pitcher on the day was Angel Chivilli — the 23-year-old, 6’3 righty who throws with such moxie and movement on his pitches. He throws a 98-MPH fastball and 90-MPH changeup, and shutout the Rays in the 7th and 8th with consecutive 1-2-3 innings.

And Tim Hill wrapped it up in the 9th — NY up 12-4 — with groundout, groundout, single, groundout for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816087

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