TAMPA, Fla. – Off to a solid early-season start, Yankees’ designated hitter Ben Rice exited Saturday afternoon’s game at Steinbrenner Field due to a left elbow contusion.
Rice was taken to nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital and sent for X-rays, which came back negative according to the Yankees. Rice was also to receive a CT scan.
Tampa Bay Rays reliever Manuel Rodriguez had just replaced starter Shane Baz with runners at first and second, one out, when the lefty-hitting Rice was struck by a breaking pitch to his back elbow.
Rice remained in the game to run the bases, moving to third on Aaron Judge’s two-run single and scoring on an Austin Wells sacrifice fly.
When his time at bat came around again in the sixth, Rice was replaced by pinch-hitter Pablo Reyes, who grounded out.
Rice had his first career four-hit game in Thursday night’s series opener against the Rays, and he was robbed of a two-run homer Friday night, on right fielder Jose Caballero’s tremendous leaping grab at the wall.
Entering Saturday’s game, Rice was batting .297 over his first 18 games, with five homers, nine RBI and a 1.001 OPS.
Batting leadoff on Saturday, Rice (0-for-1) was hit in the foot with a breaking pitch to open the game, later scoring. He struck out in the second inning.
