Fan interference denies Yankees of game-tying HR vs. Rays - ESPN

NEW YORK — Fan interference was called in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's American League Division Series Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, altering a would-be, tying two-run homer by second baseman Anthony Volpe into a run-scoring double.

With the Yankees' George Lombard Jr. at first base, Volpe lifted a long fly ball to left and Rays left fielder Victor Mesa Jr. drifted backward to the fence, with the ball seemingly being pushed by a wind blowing from right field to left. Mesa jumped near the fence, and when the ball disappeared into the stands, Yankee Stadium erupted with cheers for what was initially ruled a tying home run.

But with Mesa pleading for fan interference, the umpires gathered on the infield and determined that a crew review was needed. Replay showed that a fan in a navy blue Yankees jacket reached beyond the fence for the ball, seemingly into the field of play, with the ball ricocheting off the fan's hands and into the stands.

As the video of the play was shown, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero waved his arms, as if to wave off Volpe's home run.

Crew chief Dan Bellino informed the fans that interference was called — an announcement greeted with a wave of boos. But Bellino then continued by saying that Mesa would not have made the catch, and the replay center determined that Lombard would have scored, with Volpe getting credit for a double.

Major League Baseball's interference rule specifically gives the umpires discretion to make that kind of ruling. Rather than a tie score, the Rays still held a 4-3 lead — which is how the game ended, as Tampa Bay swept the best-of-five series to move into the AL Championship Series.

MLB issued this statement soon thereafter:

«After viewing all relevant angles, the