Yankees 'superstar' Ben Rice singlehandedly outhits Red Sox in WC win

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Ben Rice raked four hits, including two homers, while pitcher Cam Schlittler dominated in a New York Yankees shutout of the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of an American League wild card series.

Schlittler allowed just two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings en route to the 9-0 triumph in Game 1 of the best-of-three series Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

"I'll remember getting a W versus the Red Sox. There is nothing better than that," Rice told reporters. "I'll remember Cam going out there and just being lights out, like he always is. I'll remember that atmosphere.

"Just an awesome night and a great way to kick off the series."

Rice, a first-time All-Star this season, went 4 for 5 with six RBIs.

"I think he's just a superstar," Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe said of Rice. "Obviously, the way the year has went with injuries and everything, I think he has carried us a lot.

The Yankees jumped on their rivals with an RBI single from catcher Austin Wells in the second inning and never looked back. Schlittler allowed a single to Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman in the game's second at-bat, but went on to retire the next 13 batters in order.

The Yankees starter, who didn't allow another hit until the seventh inning, leaned on his curveball, while also revving in several fastballs eclipsing 100 mph in the 117-pitch effort. He threw 77 of those pitches for strikes, leading to 10 strikeouts. He issued just one walk.

"I think the natural adrenaline, just the environment and how loud it was definitely helped," Schlittler said. "Just being able to lean on that."

Rice ripped a 423-foot solo homer of relief pitcher Erik Miller in the fifth. He plated outfielder Spencer Jones with an RBI single in the seventh for a 3-0 Yankees lead.

Wells scored the fourth Yankees run when pinch hitter Luis Garcia Jr. grounded into a double play later in the inning. Wells scored shortstop George Lombard Jr. off a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Rice brought in the Yankees' final four runs two at-bats later, when he hammered a 408-foot grand slam off relief pitcher Brayan Bello . That blast traveled 108.6 mph off the designated hitter's bat before finding the Yankees bullpen.

"Pretty remarkable," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "For [Rice and Schlittler] to go out and have that kind of night together to start this postseason, it's pretty amazing and kind of hard to grasp a little bit, frankly. But I'm certainly glad we have those two."

Yankees relief pitchers Paul Blackburn and John Schreiber combined to allow just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings of the shutout. Lombardi went 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Wells went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Red Sox starter Payton Tolle allowed five hits and a run over 4 2/3 innings. No Red Sox players reached base more than once in the lopsided loss. The Red Sox Nos. 1 through 4 hitters combined to go 1 for 12 with eight strikeouts.

The Yankees (1-0) will host the Red Sox (0-1) in Game 2.