Yankees Fans Removed After Interfering with Mookie Betts’ Catch in WS G4 vs. Dodgers

Andrew PetersOctober 30, 2024

Al Bello/Getty Images

New York Yankees fans are pulling out all the stops to try to help will their team to a Game 5 in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the bottom of the first inning of Game 4, Mookie Betts made a leaping catch against the wall to bring in a foul ball for an out, but two fans at Yankee Stadium tried to take the ball out of his glove. The play was ruled an out after umpires declared fan interference.

FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX”Well, A for effort.”

Fan interference was called on this play where a Yankee fan tried to take the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd

The fans were eventually ejected from the game, an 11-4 win for the Yankees, a league spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.

“That was one of the most aggressive ‘fan ripping the ball out of his glove (incidents)’ that I’ve ever seen,” longtime former MLB umpire Dale Scott said, per Kuty.

The Athletic @TheAthleticThe Yankees fans who interfered with Mookie Betts’ catch in the first inning have been escorted out to the concourse.

Fellow Yankees fans appear to applaud as they leave.

🎥 @rustindodd pic.twitter.com/L8eJzI1yUQ https://t.co/0IEYRvYViv

Dodgers Nation @DodgersNationYankees fans escorted out of World Series Game 4 after trying to rob Mookie Betts of his catch and his arm.
pic.twitter.com/FoOvmcTFt2

Both the Yankees and their fans are desperate for a win as they look to avoid a clean sweep by Los Angeles. New York seemed capable of giving the Dodgers a good series after taking things to extra innings in Game 1, but it’s been all Los Angeles since then.

The Dodgers won Game 2 4-2 and dominated Game 3 as their pitchers held the Yankees scoreless until the ninth inning when Alex Verdugo finally got them on the board with a two-run homer.

Los Angeles’ work on the mound has been too much for New York through three games, especially for star Aaron Judge, who had a hit in Game 1 but has since gone 0-for-7 and gotten on base just once.

Now on the brink of elimination, the Yankees need someone to step up and contribute more, though they’d probably prefer if their fans just enjoyed the game rather than trying to make a play of their own.