World Series: Yankees fans call for intervention after trying to rip off Mookie Betts' glove in Game 4
A pair of New York Yankees fans did their best to stop Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts on Tuesday.
Two Yankees fans sitting in the front row near the foul pole in right field were called for fan interference when they tried to rip the glove off Bates' hand when he made a play on a foul ball in Game 4 of the World Series.
Their effort, which came when Bates tracked down a fly ball from Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the first inning, failed. As the ball reached the first row of seats at Yankee Stadium, Bates appeared to have fixed the play, and two fans immediately jumped and attempted to steal the ball. A fan actually ripped the ball out of Bates' glove while apparently trying to pull the glove completely from Bates' hand.
Officials quickly called fan intervention and allowed Bates to be ejected. Security almost immediately moved to the fans and the two were seen exiting the stands.
Anna, a Connecticut Yankees fan who was standing nearby, told me she told the man he was a “hero” for trying to break up the play.
“It's a championship game,” he said. pic.twitter.com/l5bKHAsRlk
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) October 30, 2024
Fans were ejected, according to The Athletic. The fan who tried to rip off Betts' glove was identified as Austin Capobianco, 38. Austin's younger brother, Darren, told The Athletic that Betts swears by them.
“I just see the ball — I don't want to[goupforgrabsifthatmakessense”DarrenCapobiancosaid”AndthenMookiewasswearingatusNotgood”[গ্র্যাবকরারজন্যউপরেযানযদিতাবোঝাযায়”ড্যারেনক্যাপোবিয়ানকোবলেছেন।“এবংতারপরেমুকিআমাদেরশপথকরছিল।ভালোনা।”[goupforgrabsifthatmakessense”DarrenCapobiancosaidviaTheAthletic“AndthenMookiewasswearingatusNotgood”
Austin, who is a Yankees season-ticket holder, declined to comment on the incident to The Athletic via text message. He said he just wanted to “watch the game”.
Bates was involved in a similar incident with fans during the ALCS in 2018, when he was with the Boston Red Sox. There have been several incidents of fan interference throughout the postseason, including Game 1 of the World Series, when a fan reached over the outfield wall and caught a Torres fly ball. That play was ruled a double.
The Dodgers entered Tuesday's game up 3-0 in the series and took a 2-0 lead when Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning. Freeman now has home runs in four World Series games and six World Series games dating back to his last appearance in 2021, both records.
The Dodgers are looking for their first World Series title since 2020. The Yankees haven't won since 2009. No team has successfully climbed out of an 0-3 hole in World Series history.
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