Yankees fan Austin Capobianco, who was ejected from Game 5 of the World Series after interfering with the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts the night before, has explained the lesser-known reason why he was let down by the penalty.
Capobianco tried to snatch a ball from Betts’ glove when the outfielder went up to catch a foul ball, causing him and a friend named John Peter, who grabbed the Dodger’s arm, to be ejected from Yankee Stadium.
And before the Yankees lost Game 5 in a heartbreaking collapse, season ticket holder Capobianco revealed Newsday that even his little brother and his friends were not allowed to use their seats on Wednesday.
“The ban on tonight’s game was actually expected, but the fact that my little brother and his friends can’t use our season tickets tonight really pissed me off,” he wrote via text message. “It’s not like they can go to the next game.”
Instead, the seats were occupied by a childhood cancer patient and his family.
Austin Capobianco (left) and a friend, identified as John Peter, interfered with Mookie Betts
Both fans were ejected after the play, which took place in the first inning of Game 4
ESPN revealed the cancer patient was 15-year-old Calvin Young.
Capobianco initially told the newspaper that he was told he could return Wednesday night, but that turned out to be untrue when the Yankees released a scathing statement calling his and Peter’s actions “egregious and unacceptable.”
“Last night, two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for blatant and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts,” the Yankees said.
“The safety and security of players, fans and stadium staff is the fundamental element of any event held at Yankee Stadium, and this should not be compromised
“Tonight is the last home game of the year and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion to be visible. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, but the exuberance of supporting a team can never cross the line and deliberately put players in physical danger.
Capobianco told ESPN on Tuesday night: “I know when I’m wrong and as soon as I did it I was like, ‘Guys, I’m out of here.’ ‘I patrol that wall and they know it.
The New York Yankees won praise for donating ejected fan seats to a young cancer patient
15-year-old Calvin Young watched Game 5 of the World Series in the Bronx with his family
‘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.’
Meanwhile, Betts himself downplayed the incident when speaking to reporters after his team lost on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t matter, we lost,” he told reporters. ‘It didn’t matter. “I didn’t even know he took my hand, so [my hand] that’s fine.’
It is reportedly unclear whether Capobianco’s suspension will also apply next season.
The Yankees lost 7-6 on Wednesday after leading 5-0.