PHILADELPHIA — Hours beforehand, Ben Rice declared his Home Run Derby experience “already a success” because he and his father, Dan, had made it.
The derbies that took place in their backyard in Cohasset, Mass., were teleported into a different decade and venue, still a father pitching to his son.
The Rices won.
Just not the Derby.
Ben was eliminated in Monday’s first round at Citizens Bank Park, finishing with seven home runs — better than Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s three last season, but still last in this field — when he needed at least 10 for a shot at the second round.
They did not win, which does not mean they lost.
“I think it’s a can’t-lose mentality for us,” Ben said earlier in the day while breathing in his first All-Star experience. “Going to go out there and enjoy ourselves, hopefully hit a bunch of homers, hopefully we win it.
“But if not, it was a success because my dad and I got to do it.”
