Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt put on power show in Yankees’ win

SEATTLE — Yankees first basemen of all ages delivered the thump to make sure they got out of T-Mobile Park with a series win.

On a day when Cam Schlittler dominated again before the bullpen made things hairy late, Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt each homered and combined to drive in all five runs to secure a 5-3 win over the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon.

Rice started and ended the scoring, ripping an RBI double in the first inning before crushing a 427-foot blast in the ninth for his first home run of the year.

The lefty slugger reached base eight times in the three-game series, continually in the middle of rallies.

“His at-bats have been outstanding,” manager Aaron Boone said. “This whole series — really the entire trip, but especially this series, I feel like, man, the patience, not missing his pitches, he’s found a couple holes and then really good swing on that last changeup to extend the lead for us on a no-doubter to right-center. He feels dialed in to me and obviously we know what he’s capable of.”

Paul Goldschmidt belts a three-run homer in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Mariners on April 1, 2026 in Seattle. Getty Images

Rice acknowledged a “couple bounces went my way down the line, but I think the quality of at-bat overall has been good.”

As has his quality of contact, as his three batted balls Wednesday came off the bat at 108.2 mph, 102.5 mph and 98.9 mph.

The 27-year-old was starting at DH for Giancarlo Stanton, which allowed Goldschmidt to get into the lineup for the second time this season, this time against righty George Kirby.

Ben Rice rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ win over the Mariners. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Mariners hurler got Goldschmidt to strike out looking in each of his first two at-bats before the veteran got a 97 mph fastball down the middle in the sixth inning and did not miss, clobbering it for a three-run shot that put the Yankees ahead 4-0.

“He’s such a big part of that group in there — one of the heartbeats in there,” Boone said. “He’s been great for our culture ever since he walked in the doors last year. When he hits that ball, everyone gets a little extra excited because they want it for him because they know how much he gives to that room.”

The 38-year-old Goldschmidt, a lefty crusher, only hit three home runs off righties all last season in 366 plate appearances.

But he made the most of his start against Kirby while adding a few picks at first base to save his defense.

“I knew coming back here that we had Benny at first and G DHing,” Goldschmidt said. “So I knew this wasn’t going to be a place, unless somebody got hurt, that I would be playing every single day. But I love these guys in this lineup, I love being a Yankee and just have so much fun here. Obviously a great team that has a chance to win. I knew what I was going to be doing, so I’m happy to do whatever they need me to do.”