Yankees - 4, Red Sox - 3
Q. Hi, Ben. Do you feel like this is the greatest groove you have ever been in as a professional player?
BEN RICE: I don't know if I would say that, but I mean definitely like the momentum I got going right now and the team has going right now, feel like we are in a good place.
Q. You went into the regular season on point, a hot streak, home run tonight. What's been working so well for you at the plate lately?
BEN RICE: Being aggressive to where and what I am looking for in the zone. Always coming up with a plan being convicted in that, and just being ready to go.
Q. How key was Jazz Chisholm's defensive play in the 7th inning?
BEN RICE: Unbelievable play. That's what you are going to get from him, just a guy who will give 110% every play. You saw him running the bases too. Going to first base on Wellsy's hit.
Q. Did you think he had a chance to throw him out? I know he was safe on the play.
BEN RICE: I thought it was going to be close.
Q. The home run in your first postseason at-bat, what did that feel like?
BEN RICE: Felt amazing. Felt really good. Obviously coming off of a loss yesterday too, to kind of set the tone for us in the first inning to get us out to a lead felt really good.
Q. Coming off of yesterday not playing, was that at all on your mind? Was that tough to deal with?
BEN RICE: No. I know my role, and yesterday my role was to, you know, be ready for a big at-bat off the bench, and today I was starting. The approach doesn't change. I mean, I am just going to be prepared for every at-bat I get and every chance I get.
Q. The line drive to right field, did you think that was going to have a chance?
BEN RICE: I have had a good amount of those this year. So I figured I, honestly, hit it a little too hard, so ended up going right at them. Obviously when you score one up, you think it is going to be a hit. But I saw that he basically didn't have to move catch it. That was tough.
Q. You look pretty animated as you were passing the dugout on that home run. What exactly was going through your mind at that moment?
BEN RICE: What I was describing about yesterday just losing a tough one there, and being able to set the tone early for us in the first inning and give us a lead. I know I just was able to get the boys fired up. Being able to set the tone like that was huge.
Q. We know your story. You were a Yankee fan, grew up from Red Sox country. What does it mean to play in a series like this? What does it mean to your family?
BEN RICE: Unbelievable. So cool. One, to be a part of the rivalry now, just given where I am from and where I grew up and all that, just makes it all that much more special.
Q. Did you think about that at all tonight?
BEN RICE: Of course, yeah. Just makes it that much more exciting to be a part of it, having that story. It's cool.
Q. Obviously that's a must-win for you guys there. Do you feel the urgency on their side increasing as they bring in their bullpen early, extend Whitlock to season-high 48 pitches?
Do you feel they saw that as much of a must-win as you did?
BEN RICE: Absolutely. We kind of anticipated that going into today, and that's why it was so important for us to jump out to an early lead and make them go to their bullpen right away and use all of their guys.
So, yeah, I think we all kind of had that read on it that they were going to, you know, go all in and try to match up with every single lane that they had.
Q. Ben, how would you describe Fernando's reaction coming off of the field when he got out that inning?
BEN RICE: Pretty on par for him. I honestly wasn't surprised at how excited he was. I felt like I could see every vein popping out of his head. But that's what you get from him. That's the intensity you get, and we are really lucky to have him.
Q. Now you are having a third game. How much help, your home run, and the win to the aid for the next game tomorrow?
BEN RICE: How much does it help going into tomorrow? I mean, great. Helps make you feel like you are in a good spot. Of course was able to help win the game today and gives myself and the team a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports