Ben Rice set the tone for the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
An early home run to take the lead helped the Yanks to pick up a season-saving win and force a decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox.
In the process, Rice did something a Yankees player hadn't done in 27 years.
Back in 1998, Shane Spencer homered in his first postseason at bat for New York.
And now in 2025, Rice has done the same.
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Baseball Reference's Katie Sharp shared that the Yankees hadn't had that happen between Spencer and Rice:
Ben Rice is the 1st Yankee to homer in his first career postseason at-bat since Shane Spencer in 1998 ALDS Game 2
— Katie Sharp (@SharpStats17) October 1, 2025
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Rice had sat out Game 1 of the series as a left-handed batter who would've had the platoon disadvantage against Garrett Crochet.
The Yankees haven't publicly made their Game 3 lineup decision yet. Connelly Early starts for Boston, another lefty, albeit one who is less dominant against same-sided hitters.
The Yanks might want to keep Rice in there. He's clearly not fazed by the moment. And if he delivered another early home run, it could make all the difference.
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