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New York Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Ben Rice joined rare company in the team’s 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Rice hit a two-run homer in the third inning off Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter to give New York an early lead. Judge followed it with a solo blast of his own. The dingers marked Judge’s 11th of the season and Rice’s 10th.
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Aaron Judge and Ben Rice of the New York Yankees celebrate Rice’s home run in the third inning against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Tony Gutiérrez/AP)
The duo became the first pair of Yankees teammates since Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra to hit at least 10 home runs in the team’s first 29 games of the season. Mantle and Berra accomplished the feat in 1956.
Mantle went on to hit 52 home runs, leading the MLB that year. Berra finished with 30.
“After he hit his, he said, ‘I’m not going to let Benny catch me,'” Rice said of Judge. “I just try to keep him honest, keep him motivated.”
Judge is hitting .252 with 11 RBIs and has an OPS of 1.010. Rice is hitting .322 with 23 RBIs and an OPS of 1.192.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Tony Gutiérrez/AP)
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“Just constant strike after constant strike. Like it’s must-see television at this point,” Judge said of Rice. “He’s going to put something on the line or he’s going to make his way and pass the baton. It’s just awesome to watch, and I have a front-row seat. … And it makes my job easier when he does that.”
Rice was asked if he could follow Judge – a three-time MVP – for the rest of the season. He said he was just enjoying the moment.
“Yeah, I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying being so close right now,” Rice said.
“It’s pretty cool. I definitely wouldn’t have planned something like this,” he added. “But obviously the three names around me are pretty big, so really quite humbling.”
New York Yankees players Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge celebrate their team’s victory against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, April 27, 2026. (Tony Gutiérrez/AP)
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New York improved to 19-10 this year. Texas fell to 14-15.
