Ben Rice hits tiebreaking homer in 10th as Yankees beat Blue Jays 4-3 to avoid three-game sweep
Yankees Escape Toronto With 10th-Inning Blast to Sidestep Sweep
Bharatmorningnews.com – The New York Yankees dodged a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, winning 4-3 behind a two-run homer from Ben Rice in the top of the 10th inning.
Rice Delivers Series-First Hit at the Worst Possible Moment
The slugger’s first contact of the series arrived with everything on the line. Rice launched a two-run shot off reliever Braydon Fisher, marking his 33rd home run of the season and giving New York a decisive edge in extra innings.
That four-run total represented double what the Yankees had managed across their previous three outings — all defeats — making the surge all the more notable.
Toronto’s Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short
The Blue Jays had erased a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the ninth, but closer David Bednar ultimately stranded the go-ahead runner at second base. Josh Smith got on base via a fielding error by Rice to open the inning, and Alejandro Kirk drew a walk that placed the tying run in scoring position.
Pinch runner Brandon Valenzuela replaced Kirk, and one out later both baserunners advanced on a wild pitch. Ernie Clement then delivered a sacrifice fly to level the score at 3-3 before Bednar retired Kazuma Okamoto on a groundout to force extras. The blown save marked Bednar’s third of the season.
Pitching Notes
Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers absorbed seven and two-thirds innings, surrendering one run on six hits while fanning four batters. He retired the first ten hitters he faced in sequence before walking one.
In Toronto, closer Tim Hill allowed an RBI single to Andrés Giménez in the bottom of the 10th but survived to record his second save in six opportunities.
Cease notched a career-best-pace strikeout total by fanning ten batters — his ninth double-digit outing in 23 starts. The performance pushed his American League-leading strikeout count to 201, though Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski still holds the major-league lead at 210.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ben Rice hits tiebreaking homer in 10th?
Ben Rice hits tiebreaking homer in 10th is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Ben Rice hits tiebreaking homer in 10th matter?
Ben Rice hits tiebreaking homer in 10th matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.