TORONTO — Rice is nice.
With the Yankees in danger of their defense costing them another game, and falling even further behind the Blue Jays in the AL East, Ben Rice saved the day with one giant swing.
The first baseman clobbered the first pitch he saw from Jeff Hoffman in the top of the ninth inning, a clutch home run that lifted the Yankees to a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays at a sold-out Rogers Centre on Tuesday night.
Rice had struck out on three pitches against Hoffman to end Monday’s game, but slayed the Blue Jays closer on Tuesday to claim the first Yankees win north of the border this season after starting 0-5.
It also snapped the Blue Jays’ 11-game home winning streak, pulling the Yankees (56-45) back within three games of them for the division lead.
Devin Williams gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, but then retired the next three batters in order for his 15th save.
The Yankees led 4-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, which began with Anthony Volpe’s second throwing error in as many nights.
His low throw to first base could not be scooped by Rice — turning into Volpe’s 13th error of the season, tied with Willy Adames for the most by any player in the majors — allowing the speedy Myles Straw to reach base.
One out later, Straw came all the way around to score from first on Davis Schneider’s double into the left field corner off lefty Tim Hill that made it 4-3.
With two outs, Boone brought in Jonathan Loáisiga, whose first pitch was slashed the other way by George Springer.
The Blue Jays (59-42) tested Aaron Judge’s arm and Schneider dove in just ahead of the tag to tie the game 4-4.
Loáisiga, who has not been as sharp as the Yankees need him to be since returning from elbow surgery in May, then gave up a leadoff double in the seventh inning.
But Luke Weaver promptly entered from the bullpen to retire the next three hitters in order to keep the game tied.
Cam Schlittler, who was pushed back from starting on Friday after experiencing biceps soreness during the All-Star break, was solid in his second big league start.
It was not easy, but he held the Blue Jays to two runs across five innings while allowing 10 base runners (seven hits, three walks) and striking out three.
The 24-year-old right-hander remains an intriguing arm, one that could get a chance to continue helping the Yankees or that could be on the move by the July 31 trade deadline with the Yankees needing to address multiple holes.
Cody Bellinger turned in a strong night, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of doubles in addition to playing strong defense in left field.
While Volpe’s error cost the Yankees late, their defense was sharp early on.
Bellinger made a terrific sliding catch on a sinking liner for the second out of the second inning, which Schlittler eventually escaped by leaving the bases loaded.
In the fifth, the first two Blue Jays reached before Bo Bichette hit a ground ball up the middle.
Volpe fielded it behind the bag and flipped to Jazz Chisholm Jr., who caught it bare-handed and then fired to first for the slick double play.
The Blue Jays still scored a run in the frame on Addison Barger’s RBI single that made it 4-2, but the twin killing made sure it was not worse.
The Yankees had wasted no time in getting out to an early lead against Max Scherzer.
Trent Grisham led off the top of the first with a single, Bellinger doubled and one out later, Chisholm clobbered a three-run homer for the 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays quickly got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, as Schlittler’s four-pitch walk to Springer came back to hurt. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a single before Barger roped a two-out single to make it 3-1.
But Bellinger extended the lead back to three runs in the top of the fifth, when he crushed his 18th home run of the year.
