Nearly 30 years to the day after the New York Yankees benefitted from the most infamous case of fan interference, they suffered after an eager spectator reached over the outfield wall.

Down 4-2 in a critical Game 3 in the American League Division Series to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees were in need of a spark with a runner on first.

Struggling second baseman Anthony Volpe took a 1-0 pitch and turned on it, sending it high and deep to left field at Yankee Stadium.

Rays left fielder Victor Mesa Jr tracked the ball as he ran back toward the wall – only for the ball to disappear before he could make a play on it. Fans celebrated as the ball went over the fence as they briefly believed the game was tied at 4-4.

Instead, officials went to the replay cameras and found that a fan had reached over the wall and into the field of play to make contact with the ball before Mesa had a chance to grab it.

After a lengthy review of the angles and the rules, officials overturned the home run due to fan interference. However, they also ruled that due to the angle of the ball, Mesa wouldn’t have made a catch to get Volpe out.

Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe had a critical home run taken off the board

Replay officials ruled that a fan reached into the field of play before Victor Mesa could catch it

Instead, they awarded the Yankees one run thanks to baserunner George Lombard Jr while ruling Volpe’s hit was a double.

Boos rained down at Yankee Stadium as fans were irate that the call that evened the game was overturned.

A statement from the MLB replay center (via the New York Post’s Joel Sherman) 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 second.’

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