Ben Rice is in the New York Yankees\u2019 lineup for Thursday\u2019s decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Connelly Early.<\/p>\n
NEW YORK(AP) \u2014 Ben Rice was in the New York Yankees\u2019 lineup for Thursday\u2019s decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Connelly Early.<\/p>\n
Rice did not start the series opener against lefty Garrett Crochet, who struck out 11 and allowed four hits in a dazzling 7 2\/3-inning performance in Boston\u2019s 3-1 win<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Before the series opener, manager Aaron Boone said Paul Goldschmidt would start against any left-hander the Yankees faced. Rice batted .208 against left-handed pitching during the regular season while Goldschmidt hit .336 against southpaws.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very tough call just because of how good Goldy\u2019s been, but I think Benny\u2019s presence and the threat he is to put one in the seats, I thought was the right thing,\u201d Boone said.<\/p>\n In New York\u2019s 4-3 win<\/a> on Wednesday, Rice homered on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Brayan Bello and had two hits along with a 109.4 mph lineout to right field in the third inning against left-hander Justin Wilson.<\/p>\n Boone said he decided to keep Rice in the lineup after the Yankees evened the series.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been hitting everything hard lately the last few weeks,\u201d Boone said. \u201cJust the danger and presence he is in the box because obviously what Goldy\u2019s done against lefties (is good) but I think the threat Ben is right now to change the game for me right now.\u201d<\/p>\n During the regular season, Rice batted .255 with 26 homers and 65 RBIs in 138 games. He hit .316 in his final 22 games.<\/p>\n The only change to New York\u2019s lineup was Amed Rosario playing third base for Ryan McMahon and getting his second start of the series. Rosario started at second base for Jazz Chisholm Jr. against Crochet and Jos\u00e9 Caballero started at third.<\/p>\n After Game 1, Chisholm seemed upset about not starting. His back was turned to reporters while he answered several questions at his locker. Chisholm said Boone texted him Monday night to let him know he wouldn\u2019t be in the Game 1 lineup.<\/p>\n