Grand slam drama keeps Yankees alive in playoff chase as Rice delivers

The New York Yankees (88-68) are edging ever closer to locking down a playoff spot. The Bronx side took a decisive step with a 7-1 extra-innings win over the Baltimore Orioles, thanks to a miraculous swing from Ben Rice in the 10th.

The pitching duel between Cam Schlittler and Kyle Bradish lasted four innings until Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Samuel Basallo blasted the fourth home run of his young career, sending the ball over the right-field fence.

Rice pulled the Yankees level in the sixth. With Trent Grisham on second and Aaron Judge on first, the rookie lined a hit to left field. Grisham raced home to tie the game.

Both bullpens took control from there. Dietrich Enns struck out Grisham with two men on in the seventh, while Luke Weaver had to bail out Fernando Cruz in the bottom half after he put two Orioles aboard. With the bases loaded, Jackson Holliday grounded out weakly to first.

New York loaded the bases again in the eighth, but Rico García wriggled free after replacing Enns. Devin Williams then shut down Baltimore in dominant fashion, striking out Dylan Beavers, Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle. In the ninth, Kade Strowd answered with three strikeouts of his own before David Bednar struck out Coby Mayo to end the frame.

Ben Rice’s grand slam

With the score still tied, the Yankees came up in the 10th and quickly filled the bases – Judge drew a walk and Cody Bellinger singled. That’s when Rice unleashed a thunderous grand slam, hammering a Keegan Akin fastball 413 feet to straightaway center to put New York on top.

The Yankees weren’t done. Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a solo shot, and Anthony Volpe tacked on a run-scoring single with only one out. Grisham struck out and Judge’s soft contact ended the inning.

Camilo Doval came on to close but made things tense with a pair of walks. The Dominican steadied himself in the clutch, striking out Mountcastle with a mix of cutters and sliders to seal the win.

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