Ben Rice hit two home runs in the Yankees’ 9-2 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday, reaching 41 for the season at age 27. He joined New York’s group of players who have hit at least 40 in a season at 27 or younger, alongside Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
The group also includes Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Roger Maris, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle each reached the mark twice. Through 151 games, Rice was batting .263 with 41 home runs and 97 RBIs.
New York has clinched the American League’s top Wild Card position, with a 10-game advantage over Chicago, which holds the final spot. The Yankees trail Tampa Bay by five games with four regular-season games left, and cannot catch the Rays for the AL East title. They face Tampa Bay on Thursday, then finish the season with three games against Baltimore.
