The two New York Yankees fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts in the first inning of Game 4 on Tuesday might not be back for Game 5 on Wednesday.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, MLB reportedly asked the Yankees to ban Austin Capobianco and John Peter from returning to the scene of their fan interference.
News: MLB has asked the Yankees to ban the two fans who interfered in Game 4 from tonight’s game. They will be refunded for their tickets, per a source.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 30, 2024
An unusual scene broke out along the right-field line in the bottom of the first inning of Game 4 when the two fans, sitting in the front row of seats in foul territory, interfered with Betts’ attempt to catch a fly ball.
After Betts secured the ball in his glove, Capobianco tried to pry the ball out while Peter grabbed Betts’ hand as he attempted to clasp it over his glove.
Aaron Judge was out by virtue of the fan interference call.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches a fly ball in foul territory despite fan interference during the first inning of Game Four of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The fans who interfered with Betts face a ban for Game 5.
Elsa/Getty Images
According to Rob Reinhart of the New York World Herald, security removed the fans from their seats after the incident. Reinhart also reported that they were overheard directing racial slurs toward security.
I just asked security and the fans has been removed here at Yankee stadium. He was also cuffed on his way out by police and shouted racial slurs at several officers. Bad look all around. https://t.co/CgFyPLwnSu
— Rob Reinhart (@RealRobReinhart) October 30, 2024
ESPN spoke to Capobianco after he was ejected from the stadium, but did not probe him about the racial slurs.
“We always joke about the ball in our area,” Capobianco told Rogers after Game 4. “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up.
“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
In an interview Wednesday morning with the Up & Adams Show, one of Capobianco’s college friends — former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski — offered a half-hearted defense of his behavior.
“He is all in for his teams,” Gronkowski said. “He is all in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loves them so much. That describes him perfectly, just doing whatever it takes to help his team out. He is a beauty. I just want to say congratulations for shining when your moment came.”
However, Gronkowski later said “It is unacceptable definitely in the world of sports but when you’re a fan, that’s what fans do.”
After losing the first three games, the Yankees beat the Dodgers 11-4 for their first win of the World Series. They will attempt to stave off elimination for the second consecutive night in Game 5 on Wednesday.
More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
