Ben Rice recorded his first career four-hit game and drove in two runs as the New York Yankees rallied to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Thursday night. Oswaldo Cabrera contributed with a solo home run, helping the Yankees win their first game as visitors at Steinbrenner Field, their spring training home, now serving as the Rays’ temporary stadium due to damage from Hurricane Milton at Tropicana Field.
The Rays took a 3-1 lead in the third inning thanks to Junior Caminero’s opposite-field, two-run homer—his fifth of the season—off ex-Ray Ryan Yarbrough. However, the Yankees answered back. Cabrera opened the fifth with his first home run of the year, and Cody Bellinger followed with a run-scoring groundout. In the sixth, Jasson Domínguez broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI forceout before Rice added a two-run single.
Aaron Judge went 1-for-4 with an RBI single but saw his batting average dip to .400. He also made a key defensive play, throwing out Kameron Misner trying to stretch a single in the first inning. The crowd of 10,046 featured heavy Yankee support, chanting “Let’s go Yankees!” as Rays fans responded with “Let’s go Rays!”
On the mound, Tim Hill earned the win with two scoreless innings. Ian Hamilton struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, and Devin Williams closed the game for his fourth save. Yankees starter Will Warren struggled, lasting just 1 2/3 innings and throwing 53 pitches. Rays starter Taj Bradley allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
In a tense moment, Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected in the seventh for arguing a called third strike, marking his fifth career ejection and first as a Yankee.
Next, Carlos Rodón (1-3, 5.48 ERA) will face Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.60 ERA) on Friday.
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