New York — The New York Yankees saw a dramatic shift in momentum on Wednesday night when a fan interference call erased what appeared to be a tying two‑run home run by rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Play‑by‑play
With two outs and the Yankees trailing 4‑2, Volpe launched a ball deep to left field that initially was ruled a two‑run homer, which would have tied the game at 4‑4. However, MLB’s Replay Center conducted a thorough video review and determined that a spectator had reached over the protective netting and made contact with the ball as Rays left fielder Victor Mesa Jr. attempted a leaping catch.
The official statement from the Replay Center read, “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.”
Resulting change
Because of the interference ruling, Volpe was credited with an RBI double that drove George Lombard Jr. from first base, cutting the Rays’ lead to 4‑3. The Yankees still faced a one‑run deficit, and the inning ended when Spencer Jones struck out against Griffin Jax.
Series context
The Rays entered the game leading the best‑of‑five series 2‑0 after Victor Mesa Jr. delivered a tiebreaking two‑run homer off Max Fried in the top of the sixth. The Yankees now must win the next two games to avoid elimination.
Fan behavior reminder
MLB officials reminded fans that reaching over the protective netting is prohibited and can alter the outcome of a game. The league continues to enforce strict rules to preserve the integrity of play and protect both players and spectators.
Looking ahead
Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will look to capitalize on the momentum shift and force a decisive Game 5, while the Rays aim to close out the series and advance to the AL Championship.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
