The two New York Yankees fans who were ejected from Game 4 on Tuesday night for interfering with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts could be back in their seats down the right field line for tonight’s game.
According to ESPN, season-ticket holder Austin Capobianco, who grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and tried to rip the ball out, was told he and his friend John Peter would be allowed back in the ballpark for Game 5.
But a Major League Baseball official told USA TODAY Sports that Copabianco’s claim is inaccurate, and that the league is communicating with the Yankees to convey that they want both fans banned from Wednesday night’s Game 5. They will be refunded the cost of their tickets.
Capobianco told ESPN after the game he knew he had done something wrong, but seemed to indicate he had no remorse. “I patrol that wall and they know that,” he said.
The bizarre play came in the bottom of the first inning on a foul fly off the bat of Yankees leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres.
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Capobianco said he and Peter have often discussed what to do in situations like that.
“We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up,” he told ESPN. “Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
MLB rules on interference allow fans to try and catch balls that are in the seating area, but umpires have the option to call a batter out if a fan intentionally prevents a fielder from making the catch. Betts ended up making the catch before the ball was ripped out of his glove and Torres was called out on the play.
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