The two New York Yankees fans who were ejected from Game 4 of the World Series after ripping the ball from Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts鈥 glove will be banned from Yankee Stadium for Wednesday鈥檚 Game 5.
Midway through the bottom of the first inning, Betts ran towards the right field line and the corner wall in an attempt to catch a foul ball from Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. After Betts appeared to catch the ball, one of the fans in the front row pried open the outfielder鈥檚 glove as the ball popped loose while the other grabbed the Dodgers star鈥檚 other hand.
According to ESPN, the fans had been under the impression that they would be allowed to attend Wednesday鈥檚 Game 5. However, an MLB source told CNN that the league has spoken with the Yankees to let the club know those two fans will be banned from Wednesday鈥檚 game. The Yankees, the MLB source said, are in agreement.
鈥淟ast night two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for egregious and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts. The safety and security of players, fans and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised,鈥 a statement from the Yankees said.
鈥淭onight marks the final home game of year, and we want every ounce of our fans鈥 passion on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, however the exuberance of supporting one鈥檚 team can never cross the line into intentionally putting players at physical risk.
鈥淭he Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed last night. These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight鈥檚 game in any capacity.鈥
Betts reacted angrily to the incident and Torres was ruled out by the umpire via fan interference.
鈥淎 for effort,鈥 Joe Davis on the Fox commentary team . Former eight-time All-Star pitcher and color commentator John Smoltz added: 鈥淲ell, he won鈥檛 be watching the game much longer.鈥
on social media afterwards showed the two fans being escorted out of Yankee Stadium by security as they exchanged high-fives with fellow New York fans on their way out. One fan The Athletic reporter Rustin Dodd that the fan was a 鈥渉ero 鈥 it鈥檚 a championship game.鈥
The fan who ripped the ball out of Betts鈥 glove was reportedly as a Yankees season-ticket holder, who was in attendance at the game with his friend.
According to ESPN, the pair had discussed before what they would do if a foul ball came their way.
鈥淲e always joke about the ball in our area,鈥 the identified fan said at a local bar after the game, per ESPN. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to go out of our way to attack. If it鈥檚 in our area, we鈥檙e going to 鈥楧鈥 up. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We鈥檙e willing to do this.鈥
The Yankees would go onto , staving off elimination with the series 3-1 in LA鈥檚 favour. No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit in the Fall Classic.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥 Betts said when asked about the incident afterwards. 鈥淲e lost, it鈥檚 irrelevant. I鈥檓 fine, he鈥檚 fine, everything鈥檚 cool. We lost the game, that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 kind of focused on, turn the page. Everything鈥檚 fine.鈥
Betts鈥 teammate Tommy Edman called the incident 鈥渦nacceptable.鈥
鈥淵eah, that looked ridiculous from my perspective,鈥 the Dodgers shortstop said. 鈥淭he guy was trying to yank his glove off, pulling at his wrist. 鈥 It looked like he got ejected, and I鈥檓 glad he did. I鈥檝e never seen anything like that.鈥
It鈥檚 not the first time this World Series that Torres has had a ball affected by fan interference.
In Game 1, the Venezuelan was awarded a double after he hit a ball towards left field at Dodger Stadium and a fan reached over the wall and caught it.