Yankees fan who clashed with Mookie Betts ‘is allowed back for World Series Game 5’ – despite being ejected
Austin Capobianco, the New York Yankees fan who went viral for trying to snatch the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove in Game 4 of the World Series, will be back at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.
The 38-year-old was ejected after trying to force the ball out of the Dodgers star’s hand as he reached for the wall to catch Gleyber Torres’ pop-up in the first inning.
After the match he spoke to ESPN who reported that he has been told he can be back on Wednesday for Game 5, where the Yankees will look to continue their battle against the Dodgers with the series tied at 3-1.
“I know when I’m wrong and as soon as I did it I thought, ‘Guys, I’m out of here.’ I patrol that wall and they know it,” Yankees season ticket holder Capobianco told ESPN.
‘In our environment we always joke about the ball. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We are prepared to do this.’
The Yankees fan who stole the ball from Mookie Betts is expected to return for Game 5
Yankees season ticket holder Austin Capobianco (left) went viral for the incident
It happened in the first inning when Betts caught a pop-up from Gleyber Torres in foul territory
Betts himself was dismissive of the incident when he spoke to reporters after his team was defeated at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
“It doesn’t matter, we lost,” he said. ‘It didn’t matter. “I didn’t even know he took my hand, so [my hand] that’s fine.’
Betts’ teammate Tommy Edman reacted much more strongly to the fans’ interference.
“The guy tried to take off his glove and pull his wrist and it looked like he was being sent away, and I’m glad he did that. That was unacceptable for a fan.”
In the game itself, the Yankees kept the series alive with an 11-4 victory.
Anthony Volpe hit a Grand Slam to spark the hosts, while Austin Wells and Torres also homered.
Remarkably, this wasn’t the first time in this series that fans got involved with a Torres hit.
The play was ruled out and the inning ended despite Capobianco’s efforts
In the ninth inning of Game 1, Yankees fans were left outraged after a Dodgers fan caught a potential go-ahead homer, which was ultimately ruled a double before New York lost a heartbreaker in extra innings.
It means the teams return to the Bronx on Wednesday, where the Yankees try to become the first team in World Series history to force a 3-0 Game 6.
If the Yankees win again tonight, the teams will head back to California for the final two games of the series.