close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Yankees fans will be banned from Game 5 after Mookie Betts interference
news

Yankees fans will be banned from Game 5 after Mookie Betts interference

Two Yankees fans will be banned from the stadium for Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night after aggressively interfering with Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts in the first inning during Game 4 on Tuesday night, according to a league official.

Austin Capobianco, a Yankees season ticket holder who was in the front row down the right field line wearing a road gray Yankees jersey, grabbed Betts’ glove as he made a catch against the wall, and Capobianco’s friend, John Peter, grabbed Betts’ glove. right hand as Capobianco pried the ball from the glove.

They will receive their ticket prices refunded.

Yankees fans Austin Capobianco (gray jersey) and John Peter (white jersey) attempt to snatch the ball from the glove of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024. Getty Images
Yankees fans Austin Capobianco (gray jersey) and John Peter (white jersey) rip the ball out of the glove of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024. Getty Images

Capobianco told ESPN Tuesday night at a bar near Yankee Stadium after being ejected that he and Peter had long been prepared for such a scenario.

“We always joke about the ball around us,” the 38-year-old told ESPN. “We are not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’ll go to ‘D’.

“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We are willing to do this.”

Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, who made the catch to start the bottom of the first inning, was called out for fan interference.

The fans initially told ESPN that they were told they would be allowed to return for Wednesday’s Game 5, which the Yankees forced to avoid a World Series sweep with their 11-4 victory on Tuesday.


Follow The Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:


“I know when I’m wrong and as soon as I did it I was like, ‘Guys, I’m out,’” Capobianco told ESPN. “I patrol that wall and they know it.”

Capobianco’s brother Darren told The Athletic that Betts swore at them.

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) makes a catch against the wall in the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series before being heckled by fans on October 29, 2024. Jason Szenes/New York Post
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, 50, reacts after two Yankees fans snatch the ball from his glove in the first inning of Game 4 of the World Series on October 29, 2024. Jason Szenes/New York Post

“I just see the ball – I don’t want to say go for the taking, if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco told The Athletic of brother Austin’s interference in the game. “And then Mookie cursed at us. Not good.”

Although Betts seemed furious at the time, he chose his words carefully after the game.

“When it comes to the person and the game, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said. “We lost. It’s not relevant. I’m fine, he’s fine. Everything is cool. We lost the game, that’s what I’m concentrating on. Turn the page and get ready for (Wednesday).”