Ben Rice puts Yankees on brink of ALDS with MVP-type performance in Game 1 win
Ben Rice did it all for the Yankees on Tuesday night. He provided the offense and turned their Game 1 win into a laugher to preserve the bullpen.
Ben Rice's MVP-worthy performance in Game 1 of the Yankees' American League Division Series against the Red Sox was nothing short of extraordinary. Going 4-for-5 with two home runs, one of which was a grand slam, Rice drove in six of the Yankees' nine runs and became the first Yankee to homer twice in a playoff game in half a decade.
His regular season numbers, including the fourth-best OPS (.897), fifth-highest wRC+ (149), and fourth-most home runs (41), cemented his status as one of the league's top offensive players. Rice's role as the Yankees' offensive anchor became even more crucial when Aaron Judge was sidelined with a rib injury, and his production was vital as the Yankees aimed to secure a potential Division Series victory.
Despite his team's MVP chants, manager Aaron Boone emphasized that the real MVP was Rice, who won three titles with the Yankees before.
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