Two New York Yankees fans have been banned from attending Game 5 of the World Series after interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts in Game 4.
The Yankees announced in a statement Wednesday that fans will not be allowed “to attend tonight’s game in any capacity” and added that Tuesday night’s incident with Betts was “horrible and unacceptable.”
A source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers earlier Wednesday that it was not immediately clear whether the bans imposed on Austin Capobianco, a season ticket holder, and John Peter would apply to any games at Yankee Stadium next season.
“The safety and security of players, fans and stadium staff is the paramount element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and cannot be compromised,” the Yankees said in their statement.
“Tonight is the last home game of the year, and we want to show every ounce of our fans’ passion. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, yet the fervor of supporting a team can never cross the line into intentionally placing players on the field. Physical risks.”
Capobianco told Rogers that the Yankees refunded his tickets for Game 5 and also informed him that he would be arrested if he tried to attend the game.
“We are hoping for a short-term ban,” Capobianco told Rogers. “We don’t want to lose season tickets.”
Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark said Wednesday that the union “will closely monitor the response to this incident and the preventive measures taken moving forward.”
“The MLBPA takes player safety and security very seriously, including and especially on the field,” Clark said. “As with every on-field incident affecting players, we have been in regular contact with league security officials since last night’s incident and will closely monitor the response to this incident and the preventive measures taken moving forward, starting tonight.”
Capobianco and Peter were ejected for knocking the ball out of Betts’ glove after the Dodgers right fielder jumped in the first inning.
Betts jumped the wall along the right field line in foul territory and first spotted Gleyber Torres’ pop-up. Capobianco, seated in the front row and wearing a gray Yankees road jersey, grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and pulled the ball out while Peter grabbed Betts’ non-gloved hand by the wrist.
Bates reacted angrily, and Torres was immediately called out for fan interference.
“When it comes to who’s in the play, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said after the Yankees extended the series with an 11-4 win. “We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine. He’s fine. Everything’s fine. We lost the game and that’s what I’m kind of focused on.”
This was the second time Torres had been affected by fan interference at this World Championship. With two outs in the ninth inning of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, Torres hit a fly ball to left field, and a fan reached up and caught the ball. Torres had a double.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
