CNN
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Rookie Ben Rice had a day to remember, hitting three home runs in the New York Yankees’ huge 14-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rice is the first rookie to hit three home runs in a single game for the Yankees.
“It’s definitely a day I’ll never forget,” Rice said after the game, per MLB. “I’m just excited that it was a big win for us, a big bounce-back win, and against my hometown team. So it’s pretty cool.”
The 25-year-old rookie got the Yankees off to a great start when he launched a huge solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning.
“What a game and obviously in the midst of what we’re going through, to come out and set the tone in the first inning with a home run and then have kind of a legendary day,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the game of Rice’s big day.
“Really very important.”
Pamela Smith/AP
Rice hit three home runs in the 14-4 win over the Red Sox.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Rice hit a three-run home run to give the Yankees a 10-4 lead.
Rice’s incredible performance was capped in the seventh inning when he crushed his third home run of the day and his second three-run home run.
“He scored three goals in one day, something he’ll never forget and people watching here will probably never forget,” Boone added.
After his third home run of the day, Rice was led out of the dugout by his more experienced teammates to address the cheering fans at Yankee Stadium.
Rice removed his helmet and saluted the adoring crowd watching their rising star as he made an encore, marking his extraordinary performance in which he became just the third rookie in MLB history to hit three home runs from leadoff.
“Honestly, it all happened so fast,” Rice said, per MLB. “I think I was just recovering from my home run. I was walking in the dugout and I heard everyone yelling at me to do something. I didn’t even know what they were talking about, but as they were slowly leading me up the steps, I was like, ‘Oh, man. The curtain is coming down. This is pretty cool.’”