Fans ejected for prying ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove – NBC New York

Two fans who were ejected from Yankee Stadium due to a blatant and bizarre case of fan interference during a Game 4 of the World Series will not be allowed to attend Wednesday night’s deciding game in New York.

The fans in the front row of seats along the foul line in right field could be seen trying to pry the baseball from Mookie Betts’ glove after he lunged toward the wall and caught a fly ball in foul territory off the bat of New York’s Gleyber Torres York. . A fan in a Yankees jersey could be seen trying to open Betts’ glove, while another wearing sunglasses grabbed the right fielder’s arm.

The ball was eventually pried loose, but Torres was immediately given a foul for fan interference. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Yankees called the behavior “blatant and unacceptable physical contact” and said the two fans would not be allowed to attend Game 5 at Yankee Stadium.

“Last night, two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for blatant and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts,” the Yankees said in the statement. “The safety and security of players, fans and stadium personnel is the fundamental element of any event held at Yankee Stadium, and it should not be compromised.

“Tonight is the last home game of the year and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion to be on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, but the exuberance of supporting your team can never cross the line by players deliberately put in the wrong place.” physical risk.

“The Yankees and Major League Baseball have a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior exhibited last night. These fans will not be allowed to attend tonight’s game in any capacity.”

Betts was asked about the play after the game.

“When it comes to the person in the game, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said. “We lost. It doesn’t matter. I’m fine. He’s fine. Everything’s fine. We lost the game and I’m kind of focused on that. We have to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow.”

ESPN identified one of the fans as a 38-year-old season ticket holder, who said in an interview that he and the fan discussed such a scenario with him.

Associated press

“In our area we always joke about the ball,” said the fan in a bar after the match. ESPN reported this. ‘We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’ll go to ‘D’.

“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We are willing to do this.”

Associated press

Associated press

Associated press

Associated press

The unusual scene unfolded in the first inning, when the Dodgers trailed 2-0 on another Freddie Freeman home run and were on the brink of a World Series sweep, but the Yankees stormed back to win 11-4.

“The fans were escorted from Yankee Stadium and dismissed following the incident,” a team spokesperson said in a statement.

It was just the latter case of fans becoming involved on the playing field during the postseason and the second involving Torres, who hit a fly ball to the outfield at Dodger Stadium that was caught by a fan reaching over the wall. The game was labeled as double.

Game 2 of the National League Divisional Series was shut down for several minutes after fans threw a baseball, empty water bottles, trash and other items onto the outfield.

The Dodgers will get a second chance to close the series in Game 5 on Wednesday night in New York. A win would give the Dodgers their eighth World Series title.