Ben Rice delivers seven-RBI night to lift Yankees past Cardinals, joining an exclusive club with Lou Gehrig
Ben Rice authored a historic, seven-RBI performance that helped the New York Yankees rally to a 12-8 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. With this effort, Rice became the second Yankee to post multiple seven-RBI games, joining Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who previously held the record for a Yankee first baseman with nine seven-RBI games.
The turn-the-tide sequence began in the fourth inning. With two runners on, Rice blasted a no-doubt home run to right field to put New York up 6-5. Two frames later, after the Yankees loaded the bases, Rice capped the inning with a three-run double, stretching the lead. In the seventh, he drove in another run with an RBI single, making it 11-7.
Rice finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a walk, driving in seven runs to boost his season average to .240 and his OPS to .804. The night also featured Aaron Judge homering against the Cardinals, adding to the storyline of Judge reaching a milestone by homering against all 29 other MLB teams.
The Yankees, who have endured a rough stretch, found a much-needed jolt from Rice’s breakout performance, underscoring his growing role as a key contributor in the lineup.
Additional context and value notes:
– Rice’s two seven-RBI games now place him in rare company within Yankees history, highlighting his potential as a powerful middle-to-late-inning threat.
– The sequence of big hits—early three-run homer, bases-loaded three-run double, and a late RBI single—showcases Rice’s ability to deliver in multiple spots in the game.
– The win provides a positive momentum boost for a slumping club and adds an uplifting storyline as the Yankees continue their season.
Summary impression:
Rice’s multi-faceted offensive night not only produced a decisive win but also elevated his standing within the franchise’s storied history, offering a hopeful note for the Yankees as they navigate a challenging period. If this level of production is sustainable, Rice could become an even more important piece of the lineup as the season progresses.