Rice is Nice Again as Big Ben Delivers Slam for Somerset

On the night that the Somerset Patriots honored Yankees legend Ron Guidry, and on the day that the Yankees promoted Jasson Dominguez from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton, another hero emerged from the Yankees deep pool of prospects: Ben Rice.

Rice, who has been incredibly productive since his call-up last month added 'clutch' to his array of accomplishments after cracking a walk-off grand slam homer in the bottom of  the tenth inning as the Patriots topped the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Hartford Yard Goats 4-1.

With Somerset trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the tenth, Rice came up with the bases loaded and unloaded on a pitch by Alec Barger, sending it sailing over the right field wall for the game winner. Rice leapt up into the air, and shouted back at his teammates in the first base dugout.

PATRIOTS PITCHING

Chase Hampton was spectacular on the hill for Somerset. He held the Yard Goats to just four hits over five innings of work. Tanner Myatt and Jack Neely were special in relief, combining to blank the Goats over the next five innings. Neely wound up with the victory.

Ron Guidry Night

Of course, the night was not complete with out a little Yankees history. Ron Guidry, A.K.A the Louisiana Lightning, was honored by the Patriots for his outstanding career in pinstripes. Guidry threw out the first pitch and chatted it up with his teammate Sparky Lyle and former Patriots Public Address Announcer Paul Spychala.

Ex-Patriots? 

Jasson Dominguez might not call Somerset home anymore, but the 20-year old phenom picked up right where he left off in Somerset. In his new digs at Triple-A Scranton, Dominguez went 3-for-6 with a run scored and three RBI. His torrid month of August continues, and if he keeps it up, he could be in the Bronx very quickly.