Ben Rice hit a two-run, tie-breaking ninth-inning homer as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 in MLB play at Rogers Centre, a final score verified by ESPN's scoreboard for June 14.
The Yankees improved to 43-27 and Toronto fell to 34-38. MLB.com reported that Rice connected off Braydon Fisher for his team-leading 19th home run of the season, a Statcast-projected 381-foot shot to right field.
Rice Delivers Yankees' Late Swing
Rice's homer gave New York its second tie-breaking ninth-inning home run in as many games, following Paul Goldschmidt's deciding swing Saturday, according to MLB.com.
Rice told MLB.com the moment reflected the Yankees' next-man-up mentality, with Aaron Judge sidelined. Manager Aaron Boone joked afterward that Rice had taken some bad swings earlier in the day but found the right one at the right time.
The ninth did not stop with Rice. Jose Caballero later hit a three-run homer off Tommy Nance, a Statcast-projected 420-foot drive to left field, to turn a tight game into a five-run Yankees win.
Yankees Finish 5-1 Road Trip
MLB.com reported that New York won its first series in Toronto since September 2023. The Yankees had lost eight of nine games at Rogers Centre last season, including two in the American League Division Series.
Anthony Volpe drove in two runs with singles in the second and sixth innings. Ali Sanchez added his first hit and RBI in a Yankees uniform with a run-scoring double off Patrick Corbin.
Will Warren gave New York four innings, allowing eight hits and two runs while throwing 98 pitches. MLB.com reported the Yankees have won 12 of his 14 starts this season.
Blue Jays Tie It Before Ninth-Inning Fade
Toronto kept the game close before the Yankees broke through late. Kazuma Okamoto had a run-scoring single in the third, Nathan Lukes tied the game with an RBI single in the fourth and Davis Schneider hit a game-tying homer off Jake Bird in the sixth.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider was ejected in the eighth inning while arguing a balk called on Jeff Hoffman, MLB.com reported.
The result gave New York another late road win and a clean series victory in a stadium that had been rough on the Yankees a year earlier. For Toronto, the bullpen damage in the ninth turned a winnable game into a lopsided final.