New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice sent Yankee Stadium into an absolute frenzy on Tuesday night when he hit a grand slam over the wall to give his club a 9-0 lead in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox. Lost in the moment was where the actual baseball landed inside the stadium, or, in this case, what it hit before falling to the ground.
It just so happened that Rice’s grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning was headed straight for New York’s bullpen in right-center field.
Baseball fans routinely see pitchers hanging out in the bullpen get under home runs and catch them as if they’re pop-ups, which always makes for a cool moment, but what we witnessed on Tuesday night was one of a kind.
Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts at second base during the New York Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox in game 1 of the American League Wild Card Playoff Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Borough of the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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As soon as the roar inside the stadium grew in anticipation of the baseball clearing the wall, one of the Yankees’ bullpen catchers stood up, took a few steps to his right, and while it appeared he was going to throw his glove up and catch the baseball, he instead stood still and let the ball hit him directly on top of his helmet.
No last-second flinch, no movement to soften the blow of the baseball hitting him in the mask, just pure commitment from the bullpen catcher.
Aside from Rice launching a grand slam and going 4-for-5 at the dish to help deliver the Yanks a 9-0 victory, the story of Game 1 was the performance from New York starting pitcher Cam Schlittler.
Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The Massachusetts native was dominant on the bump, allowing just two hits, one walk, and striking out 10 hitters in 6.1 innings of work. New York needed Schlittler, the heavy favorite to win AL Cy Young honors, to go out and put together a performance, and he undoubtedly answered that call.
New York Yankees fans celebrate after a grand slam by designated hitter Ben Rice in the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2026 Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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The Yankees snagged a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning before doubling the lead in the bottom of the fifth and adding two more runs in the seventh before Rice officially put the game away in what was a five-run eighth inning for the home club.
The Red Sox will now be forced to figure out Max Fried on the mound on Wednesday night as they face elimination in the best-of-three series.