MLB bans Yankees fans who disrupted Mookie betting during World Series Game 5

Despite the initial chill, two of the surprise stars from Game 4 of the World Series ultimately will not return for Game 5.

On Tuesday night, in the bottom of the first inning, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres launched a fly ball into foul territory. Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts tracked the ball and made a leaping catch to the wall, but while trying to record an out, he ran into trouble.

Two Yankees fans weighed in on the Betts storydoing everything they can to release the ball. One of them grabbed Betts’ glove and used both hands to pry it open, while the other grabbed Betts’ free hand to prevent him from completing the transfer. They managed to clear the ball, but Torres was sent off anyway after the referee called on the fans to intervene.

Austin Capobianco, the 38-year-old man who had his hands on Betts’ glove, is a season ticket holder. The other man was his friend, John Peter.

Not surprisingly, the pair were ejected from the game and escorted out of Yankee Stadium. Jesse Rogers of ESPN I met with Capobiano and Peter at a local bar after the game, where they told Rogers that they had been told they would be allowed to return for Game 5.

Justin Tasch of the New York Post however, he announced that they were later banned from participating in Wednesday’s competition. Rogers followed suit and reported that MLB had asked the Yankees to ban Capobianco and Peter.

According to Rogers, the Yankees were on the same side. Capobianco told ESPN that he received a call from the team on Wednesday saying he and Peter would be arrested if they tried to enter the stadium.

Capobianco had previously told Rogers that he and Peter had long wondered how they would react if an opponent tried to catch the ball in front of them. When the time came, they made sure to “D up.”

After the Yankees won 11-4, Betts was asked about the incident at the postgame press conference.

“As far as the person playing, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said. “We lost. It doesn’t matter. Everything’s all right. Everything’s all right. We lost the game and that’s what I’m focused on. We need to turn the page and prepare for tomorrow.”

Betts’ muted response aside, Capobiano and Rogers’ actions were a gross overreach. This wasn’t another Steve Bartman scenario, nor was it a replication of the 1996 ALCS incident with Jeffrey Maier. Two full-grown adults made a concerted and deliberate effort to physically overwhelm the player, knowing what the consequences would be and bragging about it after the fact.

Still, Capobianco signed autographs and took photos with other fans after the game, making him something of a local legend.

Capobianco and Peter will receive refunds for their tickets to Game 5, and it remains to be seen whether there will be any additional consequences after the season.

Game 5 will be the last contest at Yankee Stadium this year, regardless of the final score. A win for the Dodgers would make them the champions, and a win for the Yankees would send the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Friday.

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