Watch: Yankees fan’s interference on Betts’ catch puts spotlight on World Series umpiring
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Follow UsA Yankees fan sparked controversy during Game 4 of the World Series after grabbing at Mookie Betts’ glove, prompting an interference call. In the bottom of the first inning, Dodgers outfielder Betts moved toward the wall in right field to catch a foul fly ball off Gleyber Torres‘ bat. Just as Betts secured the ball, a fan leaned over, attempting to wrest the ball from his glove, causing it to fall back onto the field. Umpires promptly ruled Torres out for fan interference.
According to the AP, this fan was ejected from Yankee Stadium immediately after attempting to pry a ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove during the World Series.
What happened
AP
The interference call, widely shared by MLB on social media, showed Betts exchanging words with the fans seated nearby after the call. Under MLB rules, fan interference is assessed when a spectator reaches into the field of play, affecting a fielder’s ability to complete a catch. In such cases, the ball is declared dead, and runners or batters are placed according to the umpire’s judgment of what would have occurred without interference.
This incident marked the second such occurrence in the series. During Game 1, another interference call prevented Torres from potentially scoring a go-ahead run when a fan caught his fly ball in the ninth inning. The umpires placed Torres on second base instead of awarding a home run, citing interference. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts subsequently brought in Blake Treinen, who managed to keep the Yankees off the scoreboard and send the game into extra innings.
These calls brought reminders of a similarly infamous fan interference in the 1996 ALCS, when Yankees fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the right-field wall, grabbing a fly ball from Derek Jeter. With no replay review available, the umpires awarded a controversial home run, which played a role in the Yankees advancing to the World Series.
With tensions high and fan interference reemerging as a factor, both teams have heightened their focus on executing clean plays as the series continues.
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