Aaron Boone on Yankees fans interfering with Mookie Betts in G4: 'There's no place for that' | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Fans disrupt Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he attempts to catch a fly ball in foul territory during the first inning of game four of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx, New York. The game ended with one out. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Al Bello/Getty Images

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke out against the two fans who disrupted Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts as he caught a foul ball during Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday.

Yankees Videos @snyyankees

Aaron Boone shares his thoughts on the Mookie Betts incident:
“Not good. There is no place for that. Come here, cheer, cheer on your team, whatever. I should never lay my hands on anyone. Not ok.” pic.twitter.com/jNBxOxWzyg

The incident occurred after Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, leading off the bottom of the first inning, threw a fly ball down the right field line toward the stands.

Betts reached up and caught the ball, but the fans grabbed him and ripped the ball out of his glove. Torres was called out for fan interference.

FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX

“Well, A for effort.”
This play was called fan intervention, in which a Yankee fan tried to pull the ball out of Mookie Betts' glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd

The two fans were immediately ejected and were blocked from participating in Game 5. As for the game, the Yanks won 11-4. The Dodgers now lead the World Series 3-1.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, fans' Game 5 tickets were given to a pediatric cancer patient and his family.

Bryan high ⚾️ @BryanHigh

The tickets used by the two ejected fans (and others in that section) last night were redistributed to a pediatric cancer patient and his family, the Yankees said.

Understandably, Boone wasn't the only person (or organization) to speak out against the fans' behavior.

“The safety of players, fans and stadium personnel is the fundamental element of every event at Yankee Stadium and must not be compromised,” the Yankees said in their statement (h/t David Adler from MLB.com).

“Tonight is the last home game of the year and we want all the passion of our fans to be on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, but the exuberance of supporting your team can never result in intentionally attacking players at physical risk.”

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the players' union is monitoring the situation (h/t Steve Gardner and Gabe Lacques of USA today): “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 protective measures taken moving forward.”

And Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman had this to say.

“That looked ridiculous from my perspective,” Edman said (h/t Matt Snyder of CBS Sports). “The guy tried to take his glove off and pull his wrist and it looked like he was ejected, which I'm glad he did. That was unacceptable for a fan.”

Betts was focused on moving forward after a tough defeat.

“When it comes to the person in the game, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said after the game, according to ESPN News Services. “We lost. That is irrelevant. I'm doing well. He's fine. Everything is cool. We lost the game and that’s kind of what I’m focused on.”

The Dodgers will try to clinch their eighth World Series title in franchise history on Wednesday against the Yankees.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply