NEW YORK – Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: There was fan interference on an apparent home run ball at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. On a seemingly game-tying home run, hit by a Yankee, in a postseason game, against an American League East opponent.
This time, though, the outcome was quite different – and by all indications, correct.
Anthony Volpe’s apparent game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series was instead changed to a double on replay review after umpires determined a fan had interfered with the ball. However, it was also determined that left fielder Victor Mesa Jr. would not have caught the ball even without interference.
Therefore, Volpe was awarded an RBI double, cutting the Rays' lead to one run, and seemingly leaving everyone on the field understanding, if not exactly happy. The Yankees wound up losing, 4-3, to get swept out of the ALDS.
“I thought they did a good job with it,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “When he hit it, to my eye looking out there, I was a little concerned right away because it felt like something, I wasn't sure. And then seeing the replay and seeing it unfold, I thought they did the right thing. I thought they got it right.”
Major League Baseball issued a statement on the play, which read as follows:
“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play. The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught. The call is OVERTURNED, there was spectator interference and no home run. Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at 2B.”
With George Lombard Jr. on first base, Volpe drilled a 1-0 sinker from Griffin Jax to left field, and the ball carried and carried to the wall. Mesa leaped to attempt to make the catch, but he came up short of the ball.
“On that play, I feel like the ball carried a little bit more than what it should,” Mesa said. “We already won, but in my opinion, I felt that I could get to the ball – it at least could have touched my glove. But it is what it is. It’s in the past, and we’re already in the next round.”
Instead, a fan in the stands caught the ball. Unfortunately for Volpe and the Yankees, the fan’s hands were over the outfield wall and in the field of play when he made the catch. The play was reviewed, and Volpe’s homer was overturned.
Volpe said that at first, he had no idea there might be any issue.
“Just seeing it through the replay and just hoping for the best,” Volpe said. “Crazy.”
It was hard not to think of one of the most famous plays in postseason history, which occurred almost 30 years ago to the day. On Oct. 9, 1996, 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier deflected a ball hit by Derek Jeter, which went for a game-tying homer in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Orioles. There was no replay review at that time, and so although the homer probably should have been overturned, it was not, and the Yankees went on to win the game, the ALCS and ultimately, the World Series.
On Wednesday, however, it appeared the correct call was made.
“I felt like [the replay officials] got it right from my vantage point,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “I haven't gone back and looked at it. The only thing I saw was what was shown on the scoreboard. I didn't think the ball was going to get out, and then [the umpires] placed the runners where they were.
“I don't know if he would have caught it or not caught it, the guy would have scored or not. Our replay official said the runners had passed second base at the point where the ball hit the fan's wrist or hand, and it makes sense why they awarded him home.”