World Series: Yankees fans ejected after prying ball from Mookie Betts' glove
Fan interference is called after the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts makes the catch in foul territory on a fly ball by the Yankees’ Gleyber Torres during the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
A pair of Yankees fans were ejected in the first inning of Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium after tag-teaming Dodgers rightfielder Mookie Betts in an attempt to prevent a catch in foul territory down the rightfield line.
The incident happened when Yankees leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres sent a foul fly ball to rightfield. Betts ran all the way to the stands and jumped to catch the ball against the side wall.
As he caught it, Betts’ glove brushed the face of a Yankees fan in a home pinstripe jersey and Yankees cap. The fan was wearing sunglasses for the night game.
A second fan in a Yankees gray road jersey then grabbed hold of Betts’ glove — with the ball still in it — and refused to let go.
As the fan in the road jersey tried to pry open Betts’ glove, the first fan reached over and grabbed Betts’ right hand. The fan holding the glove then ripped the ball out.
Both fans finally let go of the outfielder.
Rightfield umpire Mark Carlson immediately called Torres out for fan interference.
The two fans were ejected from the stadium. As they were led out by security, the fans were cheered by some in the sellout crowd.
They had seen seven batters in a game the Yankees ended up winning, 11-4, to keep their season alive.
Resale tickets for that particular section were being listed for upwards of $1,000 for Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Betts, a former Red Sox outfielder, had little to say about the incident after the game other than that he apparently thought only one fan grabbed him.
“It’s irrelevant,” he said. “We lost. I didn’t even know he grabbed my hand. When it comes to the person involved, it doesn’t matter. We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine. He’s fine. It’s cool. We lost the game. That’s what I’m kind of focused on. We’ve got to turn the page and be ready for tomorrow.”
Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: “I thought he had a bead on it. Fan got in the way, and the umpires got it right.”
Dodgers starter Ben Casparius said he “had never seen anything like it.” He should know: Casparius, who is from Westport, Connecticut, said he was a Red Sox fan growing up who went to “50 or 60” games at Yankee Stadium and “of course” always wore Boston gear.
Of the Betts incident, Casparius said: “I think it was an interesting moment just being the first couple pitches of the game and, obviously, his history with this team and playing with the Red Sox as long as he did. And it was kind of like, ‘Here we go.’”
It was the second time Torres had an at-bat impacted by fan interference this World Series.
With two outs in the ninth inning of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, Torres hit a fly ball to leftfield, and a fan reached over and caught the ball. Torres was awarded a double.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
