Ben Rice turns the page, homering in the 10th after a ninth-inning miscue helps the Yankees avoid the sweep

The Yankees’ most urgent problem heading into Sunday’s matchup in Toronto was not only scoring, it was finishing rallies, and doing it with enough margin to keep the game from turning into another late letdown. After falling into one of their rougher offensive stretches of the season and dropping the first two games of the series, New York needed something tangible, something that would change how the at-bats felt. Instead of letting the day drift toward a sweep, they got a pivotal swing from Ben Rice, who delivered a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning.

Rice’s impact came after the Blue Jays’ defense stumbled in a key late situation. According to the Yankees’ recap, an error in the ninth inning helped set the table for the kind of late push New York had been looking for. That moment was more than just a runner on base. It provided the Yankees a new runway, a chance to keep pressure on after earlier innings had not produced enough offense. By the time the game reached the 10th, the follow-through was there, with Rice turning the sequence into a lead that the Yankees could protect.

Part of the reason the Yankees’ response looked different was the decision to alter their lineup in hopes of rediscovering what had been missing. Manager Aaron Boone made changes aimed at jumpstarting production, and the most noticeable move was promoting Ben Rice to the leadoff spot. The Yankees’ game story frames the shift as an attempt to create better momentum early in games and more consistent at-bats against Toronto’s pitching. When a hitter is placed at the top of the order, the goal is usually to set the table, and Rice did exactly that by becoming the decisive bat later.

The broader backdrop made the timing matter. New York entered the game mired in one of its worst offensive stretches and coming off a three-game losing streak. In a division-oriented league where series against playoff-caliber opponents can swing quickly, the cost of staying stuck offensively is compounded each night. A sweep in Toronto would have turned a short slump into a longer narrative, one that carries into the next set of matchups. Avoiding that outcome is not a cure-all, but it changes the direction of the week.

The Yankees’ victory also highlights a common playoff-style issue even in August. Late innings often magnify small breakdowns. If the ninth-inning error had not occurred, the 10th-inning swing that created the lead might not have arrived with the same stakes. It was not simply that Rice hit a homer. It was that New York’s offense finally turned a consequential mistake into a decisive outcome, breaking the rhythm of earlier failed opportunities.

For the Blue Jays, the loss is a reminder that controlling the pace of a game does not guarantee control of its ending. Defensive errors can flip leverage, especially when the opposing lineup is known to stay aggressive once the ball is in play in high-pressure situations. For the Yankees, what to watch next is whether Boone’s lineup adjustment and Rice’s leadoff placement translate into more than a one-off spark. One late homer can arrest a slide, but sustaining production will be the real test as the series continues and the postseason picture tightens.