TWO New York Yankees fans interfered with play during Game 4 of the World Series – and a Los Angeles Dodgers star called out the sequence.
Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres had hit a foul ball that was initially caught by Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning of New York’s 11-4 win in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Yankees fans seen trying to interfere with Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts who initially caught a foul ball from Gleyber Torres in the first inning of Game 4 of the World Series[/caption]
Fans try taking the ball out of Betts’ glove during the Yankees’ Game 4 win[/caption]
After Betts caught the foul ball down the right foul line, two Yankees fans in the first row grabbed him.
One fan in a Yankees’ road jersey was seen grabbing Betts’ glove with both hands before pulling the ball out.
Torres was called out on fan interference and the two fans were later ejected from the game.
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman spoke to reporters after the game and shared his displeasure with the two Yankees fans’ actions.
“That looked ridiculous from my perspective,” Edmon said, via The Athletic.
“The guy was trying to yank (Betts’) glove off, pulling at his wrist, looked like he got ejected, and I’m glad he did. I’ve never seen anything like that.
“That was unacceptable.”
One of the Yankees fans who grabbed Betts’ glove was later identified by ESPN as Austin Capobianco, a 38-year-old Yankees season-ticket holder from Connecticut.
Capobianco spoke to the outlet after the game and revealed he and pal John Peter – the other fan escorted out of the stadium – had previously discussed the exact scenario.
“We always joke about the ball in our area. We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up,” he said.
“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
Capobianco could now lose his season tickets and the pair could receive a lifetime ban from Yankee Stadium due to the incident.
Betts downplayed the scene and shared that he didn’t get hurt on the play.
“I didn’t even know he grabbed my hand,” the eight-time MLB All-Star said. “It’s perfectly fine.”
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe reacts after sliding safely into home plate to score during the eighth inning[/caption]
“When it comes to the person and play, it doesn’t matter. We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine, he’s fine. Everything’s cool.
“We lost the game, that’s what I’m kind of focused on. We got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that “the fans got in the way and the umpires got it right.”
Game 5 will be on Wednesday night as the Yankees will hope to win to avoid elimination.
Gerrit Cole will face Jack Flaherty in an epic Game 1 rematch.
