Ben Rice delivered a sensational performance, driving in a career-tying seven runs to help the New York Yankees overcome the St. Louis Cardinals 12-8 on Saturday night. Rice’s contribution included three hits and two runs scored as the Yankees improved to four wins in five games, showcasing their offensive firepower.
Rice’s standout moments came with a powerful three-run homer, a clutch three-run double, and an RBI single that kept the Yankees’ offense rolling. Aaron Judge complemented the effort with a home run and a run-scoring double, while Trent Grisham stood out for the Cardinals, recording four hits and crossing the plate four times.
Pitching Struggles Mark the Contest
New York’s starting pitcher, Max Fried, who boasts a 13-5 record, endured a difficult outing, surrendering seven runs on eight hits across five innings. Despite Fried’s challenges, the Yankees’ bullpen managed to secure the win, with David Bednar closing out the game to notch his 20th save of the season.
On the other side, St. Louis starter Sonny Gray (11-6) also struggled, allowing six runs on nine hits in five innings, continuing a tough stretch for the Cardinals, who are now on a four-game losing skid. The Cardinals’ offense featured Masyn Winn, who belted a three-run homer, Nolan Gorman, who hit a two-run shot, and Pedro Pages with a solo home run.
Additional Major League Baseball Highlights from Saturday
The Brewers edged out the Reds 6-5 in 11 innings, thanks to pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio’s decisive three-run homer in the top of the eleventh. Milwaukee’s victory marked their 14th consecutive win, breaking a franchise record set in 1987. Despite a late surge from Cincinnati, including a game-tying sacrifice fly and a solo homer, the Brewers held on as Nick Mears sealed the win with his first save of the season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the San Diego Padres 6-0, reclaiming first place in the National League West. Blake Snell pitched six scoreless innings, helping the Dodgers snap a four-game losing streak. San Diego’s Dylan Cease endured a rough start, giving up five runs (three earned) over 3 1/3 innings, while a critical error by Jackson Merrill contributed to two unearned runs for the Dodgers.
Chicago Cubs captured a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates behind <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/tag/seiya-suzuki/”>Seiya Suzuki’s go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning and a solid seven-inning outing from starter Shota Imanaga. The Pirates managed a solo homer from Tommy Pham but could not overcome the Cubs’ timely hitting and bullpen performance.
Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Texas Rangers 14-2, propelled by Myles Straw’s first career multi-homer game, finishing with five RBIs. Straw’s four hits tied his career best, while Daulton Varsho also added a two-run homer and a perfect batting line. Jake Burger led the Rangers with three hits and two RBIs in the lopsided loss.
Notable Performances and Team Updates Around the League
Washington Nationals rookie Cade Cavalli earned his first major league win, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, who failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position. James Wood’s two-run double in the fifth inning provided the offense for Washington, while Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to six games despite the Phillies’ ongoing slump.
In Boston, Trevor Story’s three-run homer helped the Red Sox secure a 7-5 win over the Miami Marlins. Story’s homer came during a four-run third inning which put Boston ahead decisively. Jarren Duran and Alex Bregman also contributed to the strong offensive effort. Miami’s Troy Johnston and Agustin Ramirez each hit solo home runs but could not prevent their team’s third straight loss.
The New York Mets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, led by Nolan McLean’s 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut. The Mets’ offense included run-scoring doubles from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, while Seattle’s Bryan Woo was tagged with the loss despite striking out eight and limiting damage over six innings.
Atlanta Braves extended their winning streak to four games with a 10-1 rout over the Cleveland Guardians. Michael Harris II stood out with a three-run homer and a double, continuing his eight-game streak of multi-hit games. The Guardians’ only offense came from Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan with a home run and two hits, respectively.
Extra-Inning Drama and Close Contests
The Houston Astros edged the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in 12 innings, with Ramon Urias delivering the winning run on a fielder’s choice. Urias beat out a potential double play, allowing Carlos Correa to score and clinch the victory for Houston. Orioles stars Dylan Carlson and Jackson Holliday powered a late rally with two-run homers, but Baltimore’s luck ran out with an 0-for-14 performance in scoring opportunities.
Detroit Tigers’ 8-5 win over the Minnesota Twins saw Kerry Carpenter and Trey Sweeney contribute key offense, with Carpenter hitting a solo homer and Sweeney scoring three times. Starter Casey Mize earned his 12th win of the season, going 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. Mize’s success against the Twins included winning three starts this season, a milestone not seen for a Tigers pitcher since 2016.
The Colorado Rockies rallied from a 7-2 deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-7, sparked by Tyler Freeman’s two-run homer in a six-run eighth inning. Other offensive standouts for Colorado included Bernabel, Brenton Doyle, and Jordan Beck, while rookie Ryan Rolison recorded his first major league win. Arizona’s Adrian Del Castillo homered and drove in three runs but could not hold the lead.
Late-Season Performances Shine Across MLB
Kansas City Royals extended a home win streak over the Chicago White Sox to 13 games with a 6-2 victory. Mike Yastrzemski and John Rave homered, with Rave also collecting two hits. Michael Lorenzen returned from injury to pitch four scoreless innings, helping to stabilize the Royals’ pitching staff. Despite a two-run double from former Royal Andrew Benintendi, Chicago continues to struggle, losing 10 of their last 12 games.
In a narrow 2-1 win, the Tampa Bay Rays overcame the San Francisco Giants with Brandon Lowe’s RBI single during a two-run eighth inning. Yandy Diaz contributed an earlier run, and a combined effort from five Tampa Bay pitchers limited the Giants to seven hits. Giants starter Justin Verlander delivered seven strong innings but left without a decision, continuing a tough season marked by poor run support.
Oakland Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-2, powered by Brent Rooker’s home run, single, and two RBIs. Colby Thomas also homered and drove in two runs, while rookie Luis Morales earned his first major league victory. The Angels’ offense included multi-hit performances from Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto, but they fell short as starter Tyler Anderson extended his losing streak to 20 consecutive starts.
Outlook Following a Series of High-Scoring and Competitive Games
The Yankees’ win marked by Ben Rice’s remarkable 7 RBIs continues to demonstrate their offensive depth and resilience, vital as the season progresses toward the playoffs. St. Louis faces the challenge of breaking out of their current losing streak to maintain contention in their division. Across the league, individual performances like those from Myles Straw, Cade Cavalli, and Michael Harris II highlight emerging talent ready to make an impact heading into the final stretch.
Teams such as Milwaukee and Los Angeles are building momentum through winning streaks, while others like Chicago and Miami work to find consistency. These games illustrate how resilience, clutch hitting, and effective pitching will be decisive factors in the closing weeks of the MLB season.