YANKEES POSTCAST: Rice homers twice, Yankees beat Rays

Ben Rice hit two homers and drove in five runs, Austin Wells also went deep and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4 Thursday to split a four-game series between the AL’s top two teams.

Junior Caminero connected for the Rays, who have a four-game lead over the Yankees in the East.

Both Rice and Caminero will compete in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on Monday night.

The injury-riddled Yankees improved to 15-19 without three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who will have his injured right rib reimaged next week.

The Yankees won for just the third time in 14 games. They’ve lost seven games in the standings in that span as the Rays have gone 10-4.

Tampa Bay’s pitchers had 45 strikeouts and only two walks in the first three games of the series before New York’s slumping hitters broke out with 14 hits and 12 runs.

Thursday's win had the most runs and hits in a game for the Yankees since a 12-2 victory over the White Sox on June 16.

The Yankees chased All-Star Drew Rasmussen (7-5) with five straight hits during a six-run third inning.

Trent Grisham’s RBI single gave New York a 2-1 lead and Rice followed with a two-run drive to right.

Rasmussen then gave up consecutive infield singles and left after Jose Caballero’s RBI single. The right-hander allowed six runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. His ERA rose from 2.73 to 3.26.

Rasmussen came in with an 0.89 ERA - five earned runs in 50 2/3 innings - against New York. It was the lowest for a pitcher against any opponent in major league history since earned runs became an official stat in 1913.

Reliever Paul Blackburn started for the Yankees, who used seven pitchers in a bullpen game. Blackburn gave up one run in two innings. Ryan Yarbrough (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning for the win.

Rice hit his 28th homer, a towering, three-run shot to right-center, off Casey Legumina in the sixth to extend New York’s lead to 10-3.

Caminero hit his 27th homer 438 feet the opposite way to right-center in the first.

Join JAY BERMAN for the Yankees Postcast!!!

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: lockedonpodcasts.com/everyday...

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

5-Hour ENERGY
Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at 5hourenergy.com or on Amazon.

Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at indeed.com/podcast

KALSHI
For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit fanduel.com to get started — Play Your Game.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)