The Aporia · Ben Rice hits 39th homer, Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick as Yanks cruise past D-backs 9-2

Ben Rice hits 39th homer, Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick as Yanks cruise past D-backs 9-2

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Brandt, D. (2026, September 19). Ben Rice hits 39th homer, Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick as Yanks cruise past D-backs 9-2. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ben-rice-hits-39th-homer-cole-becomes-winningest-no-1-draft-pick-as-yanks-cruise-past-d-backs-9-2/article_0f84dc63-95cf-534c-9c98-f7cfd033c6d8.html

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Quick Summary

Ben Rice hit his 39th home run of the season as the New York Yankees defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 on Friday night. Gerrit Cole became the winningest first overall draft pick with his 162nd career win, surpassing Mike Moore’s record. The Yankees took an early lead in a five-run first inning and never relinquished control, while the D-backs lost their third consecutive game, further jeopardizing their playoff chances.

Written by AI on 2026-09-19, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The New York Yankees secured an important victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night with a score of 9-2 at Chase Field in Phoenix, despite news that star player Aaron Judge would be going on the injured list due to a right calf strain. The game marked Gerrit Cole's return to form after struggling in his previous two starts, where he allowed seven home runs combined. Cole gave up just one run and four hits over six innings while striking out six batters, moving him past former pitcher Brien Taylor for most wins by the first overall draft pick with 162 career victories. Ben Rice contributed significantly to the Yankees' win with his 39th homer of the season, which ties Cole's feat in terms of hitting milestones during a critical period as both teams fight for playoff positions. With this win, the Yankees (89-64) moved within four games of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East and maintained a 5½-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top wild card spot.

Written for “Yankees Win Without Aaron Judge” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

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This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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“The articles describe different games and dates; ARTICLE A is from September 19 against the D-backs, while ARTICLE B is from September 24 against the Rays.”

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0 of 16 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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64/100

Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Who wrote this

David Brandt

30 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

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🔮 Now the Broncos hope quarterback Bo Nix and the rest of the offense will start producing so they can truly become one of the league’s elite.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · The Broncos' defense has carried the team. Now QB Bo Nix wants to shoulder the load vs. Cardinals

🔮 ” The Cardinals might have found a recipe for future defensive success with their gameplan against the Rams, dialing up an aggressive approach that featured lots of blitz packages.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Defensive grit a welcome sign for the Cardinals, who showed pride in snapping 4-game skid

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🔮 It’s fair to wonder if others in the organization could soon be following the former No. 4 overall pick out the door.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Marvin Harrison Jr.'s tenure with the Cardinals is done. Others might follow out the door

🔮 Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, a person with knowledge of the situation said Saturday, as trade rumors swirl around the former No. 4 overall pick.

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2026-10-06 · assertive framing · Cardinals try to stave off frustration after 3-game losing streak

Also by David Brandt

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2026-11-02 · Toronto Star

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2026-10-26 · Toronto Star

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2026-10-25 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 30 articles by David Brandt →

Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)

PHOENIX (AP) — Ben Rice hit his 39th homer of the season, Gerrit Cole became the winningest No. 1 overall draft pick and the New York Yankees used a five-run first inning to take control early and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 on Friday night. asserted

Yankees → hit → night

After learning three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge was headed back to the injured list with a right calf strain, the Yankees won for the eighth time in 10 games. asserted

Yankees → learn → games

New York, which has already clinched a playoff spot, is four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East with nine games remaining. asserted

games → clinch → East

The D-backs’ have lost three straight and their playoff hopes are in major trouble. asserted

hopes → lose → trouble

They’re five games back of the final NL wild card with eight games left. asserted

They → ’re → games

New York’s first five batters reached against D-backs’ All-Star left hander Eduardo Rodriguez and George Lombard Jr.‘s two-run single made it 5-0. asserted

it → reach → hander

Lombard added a solo homer in the sixth and finished with three RBIs. asserted

Lombard → add → RBIs

Cole (9-9) bounced back from a pair of starts that saw him surrender seven homers — the most he’s ever given up over a two-game span. asserted

he → bounce → span

He gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, striking out six. asserted

He → give → six

Selected first by Pittsburgh in 2011, Cole won his 162nd game. asserted

Cole → select → game

That is one more than Mike Moore, picked No. 1 by Seattle in 1981. asserted

That → pick → 1981

Rodriguez (15-7) picked a bad time to have arguably his worst start this season, needing 45 pitches to get three outs, his career high for a first inning. asserted

Rodriguez → pick → inning

He gave up seven runs, five hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. asserted

He → give → innings

Corbin Carroll hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 5-2 in the second. asserted

Carroll → hit → second

Rice’s solo homer in the third pushed the Yankees ahead 6-2. asserted

homer → push → Yankees

Up next The D-backs send RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.77 ERA) to the mound Saturday night while the Yankees counter with RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95). asserted

Yankees → send → Schlittler

Ben Rice hits 39th homer, Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick as Yanks cruise past D-backs 9-2

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Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)