Fan interference cost the New York Yankees a home run that could have tied Game 3 of their American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning.
Trailing 4-2, New York appeared to tie the game when Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer into the left field stands.
However, the umpires overturned the call and changed it to an RBI double after the replay determined that a fan had reached the wall and interfered with the ball.
After reviewing the replay, the Yankees score a run on Anthony Volpe’s RBI double! https://t.co/6Fua0LNVBQ
– MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2026
“After observing all relevant angles, the umpire conclusively determined that the spectator interfered with the ball above the playing field. The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught,” read a statement from the MLB Replay Operations Center, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
New York eventually stranded Volpe at second base, ending the inning still trailing 4-3.
“I thought they were right,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “When he hit it, in my eyes, I was a little worried right away because it felt like something – I wasn’t sure. And then seeing the replay and seeing it play out, I thought they did the right thing.”
The Yankees ended up losing to the Rays by one run, ending their season.
“It was interference,” Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. said. “I think maybe I could have reached for that ball. It didn’t matter if we won or lost. Well, that’s in the past now. I think they could have even called for an out, because I was right there. Everything happens for a reason. It was kind of an in-between game.”
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