Ben Rice hits tiebreaking home run in ninth inning, Yankees beat Blue Jays 5-4

TORONTO (AP) — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger also homered and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday.

Rice connected off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (6-3) for his 15th home run as the Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak against Toronto.

Ian Hamilton (2-1) got one out for the win and Devin Williams finished for his 15th save in 16 chances.

Addison Barger had two hits and George Springer reached base four times but Toronto’s franchise-record home winning streak ended at 11 games.

New York led 4-2 before a throwing error by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe opened the door to a game-tying rally in the sixth. The error was Volpe’s 13th, tying him for most in the majors. It was his second error in two games.

Pinch hitter Myles Straw reached on Volpe’s error and scored when pinch hitter Davis Schneider doubled off left-hander Tim Hill. Jonathan Loáisiga came on to face George Springer, who drove in Schneider with a game-tying single.

Making his second career start, Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Toronto’s Max Scherzer allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.

New York jumped out to an early lead when Chisholm hit a three-run homer off Scherzer in the first, his 18th.

Barger hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first, but Bellinger’s one-out blast in the fifth, his 18th, made it 4-1.

Rice hit a 389-foot homer on the first pitch he saw from Hoffman.

Schlittler’s fastest pitch of the game was clocked at 99.5 mph, one of four he threw above 99 mph.

Yankees LHP Max Fried (11-3, 2.43 ERA) is expected to start against Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (10-4, 3.89) in Wednesday’s series finale.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer delivers to a New York Yankees batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a single against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees' Ben Rice hits a double in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

KOHALA, Hawai‘i--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

Kuleana Rum Works, the Hawai‘i-based distillery known for its additive-free, award-winning rums, today announced the release of “An Open Letter on Additive-Free Rum,” written by Founder & CEO Steve Jefferson, addressing why rum is now facing the same scrutiny and market shift that reshaped tequila a decade ago.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107792953/en/

Consumers across spirits are demanding more honesty about how products are made. Additive-free labeling has already transformed tequila and is reshaping whiskey and RTDs. Drinkers now expect producers to protect natural flavor instead of masking it, and bartenders increasingly use transparency as a measure of quality. The letter positions rum as the next category entering this accountability cycle, as more consumers begin to question undisclosed sweeteners, flavorings and added color.

Tequila provides the clearest precedent. Producers who embraced additive-free methods helped premiumize the category, while brands relying on undisclosed additives now face growing skepticism. According to the letter, rum is approaching the same turning point. Jefferson explains that Kuleana Rum Works was founded on additive-free principles: growing heirloom Hawaiian kō (sugarcane), fermenting and distilling fresh juice at lower proof to preserve natural character, adding nothing after distillation and holding all blending partners to the same standards. Every rum — whether distilled in Hawai‘i or sourced — is verified additive-free through independent lab testing and supplier documentation.

“Consumer expectations are changing fast across spirits,” said Steve Jefferson, Founder and CEO of Kuleana Rum Works. “People want honesty in what they drink, and they’re rewarding producers who protect natural flavor rather than covering it up. Additive-free isn’t a trend — it’s becoming the standard, and rum is now facing that shift head-on.”

Additional detail in the letter underscores how production choices such as fresh juice fermentation, low-proof distillation and a strict no-additives policy create transparency and flavor integrity that align with what the market is valuing.

About Kuleana Rum Works

Founded on the island of Hawai‘i in 2013, Kuleana Rum Works crafts award-winning, additive-free rums — led by its signature Hawaiian Rum Agricole® — from fresh kō (heirloom Hawaiian sugarcane) grown on its regenerative Kohala farm. Now available in 17 states and Japan, Kuleana Rum Works champions excellence, transparency and community stewardship. Visit kuleanarum.com to learn more.

https://kuleanarum.com/additive-free/