Ben Rice tops Aaron Boone’s preseason prediction of 39 homers, hitting 40th and then 41st

Boone predicted during spring training that Rice would finish with 39 home runs this season. Rice hit Nos. 40 and 41 in a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays , tying for the American League home run lead.

He smiled and pointed at Boone when he returned to the dugout after driving Mason Englert 's first pitch of the game into Yankee Stadium's right field second deck. Rice grinned at Boone some more after another solo homer in the fourth.

"I think I said, `Hey, there's 40 for you,'" Rice recalled. "I was joking with him after the 41st one, saying, `Hey thanks for inspiring me this year.' But it's all in good fun. Back in spring when he told me that, I knew that secretly meant he was hoping I'd hit 40."