Bronx Bomber Babe

Bronx Bombers Host a Home Run Derby in Baltimore: Ben Rice Continues to Impress

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The New York Yankees made a big statement Tuesday night, beating the Baltimore Orioles 15–3 in a game that felt one-sided from the start. It was the kind of performance that showed just how dangerous this Yankees team can be when everything clicks—especially the offense.

A Historic First Inning

The Yankees got off to a record-setting start. Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, and Ben Rice hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. Then, Cody Bellinger followed with a fourth homer, all before the Orioles recorded an out. According to MLB.com, this was the second time this season the Yankees hit four home runs in the first inning—something no other MLB team has done even once in a year (Hoch, 2025).

It was an electric start that gave New York a 4–0 lead before the crowd had even settled in. From there, the Yankees never looked back.

Ben Rice Stays Hot

One of the biggest standouts was Ben Rice, who is quickly becoming one of the Yankees’ most reliable hitters. He went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four runs scored. He now has eight homers this season and has raised his OPS to .998.

When asked about hitting after Grisham and Judge, Rice said: “It definitely crosses your mind, right? The first two guys just hit a homer, but with that being said, you’ve just got to stick to your approach. Stick to your plan, and look for something to drive” (Hoch, 2025).

Rice’s calm and focused approach at the plate continues to pay off—and he’s giving the Yankees strong production in the middle of the lineup.

Strong Start From Rodón

Starting pitcher Carlos Rodón was just as effective. He retired the first 15 batters and finished with six-plus innings, giving up only two runs and striking out seven. His ERA is now 3.43, and he has allowed just three earned runs over his last 19 innings.

Rodón credited the early lead for helping him settle in. “We had such a nice lead,” he said. “We could just cruise … pour it in, get outs as quick as we can and get the boys back in the dugout so they can score more runs” (Hoch, 2025).

It was another strong outing from Rodón, who’s looked more confident and consistent as the month has gone on.

Previewing Tonight’s Matchup

The Yankees will try to win the series tonight in Baltimore. Carlos Carrasco gets the start, entering with a 2–1 record, a 5.26 ERA, and 17 strikeouts on the season. He’ll face Orioles left-hander Cade Povich, who is 1–2 with a 5.04 ERA.

Yankees Lineup – April 30, 2025:

  1. Paul Goldschmidt (R) – 1B
  2. Trent Grisham (L) – CF
  3. Aaron Judge (R) – RF
  4. Ben Rice (L) – DH
  5. Anthony Volpe (R) – SS
  6. Austin Wells (L) – C
  7. Pablo Reyes (R) – 2B
  8. Jasson Domínguez (S) – LF
  9. Oswald Peraza (R) – 3B

With Rice swinging a hot bat and Judge heating up, the Yankees are in a good position to keep their momentum going. Another win tonight would secure the series and help the team head into May on a high note.

Sources:
Hoch, B. (2025, April 29). Yankees make history with 4-HR first inning … again! MLB.com. https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-in-first-for-second-time-in-2025
ESPN. (2025, April 30). Yankees vs. Orioles game preview. https://www.espn.com/mlb/preview/_/gameId/401695357

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