With the game tied 2-2 during the Top of the 9th inning in Game 1 of the World Series, New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres hit a long-drive to centerfield, and the catch was made by... a fan.
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The announcer announced, "Lifts a fly ball to left-centerfield, headed deep there... It is gone!... with the help from a fan!"
A fan reached over the fence on this hit by Gleyber Torres resulting in a fan interference call pic.twitter.com/67dm8hrhqm
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
The fan was seen reaching over the wall with his own glove, and the umpires right away called fan interference, which by rule means it is a double.
Rule 6.01(e) states: When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.
Dodgers fans playing ELITE defense in the stands tonight
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 26, 2024
Upon replay, the call that was made had been confirmed, and the fan was escorted out of the stadium by security.
The Dodger fan that caught the Gleyber Torres “homer” is getting escorted out by security. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/woOFeOPWCD
— Julian Del Gaudio (@JulianDelGaudio) October 26, 2024
After the game Dodgers centerfielder Kiké Hernandez said the umpires made the right call.
"Off the bat, I thought it was going to be way gone," Hernandez said. "I looked at the exit velo and thought it was going to be way gone. The ball was doing something weird in the air tonight... But yeah, they got the call right."
Torres was placed on second base, as the go-ahead runner. And with two outs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to intentionally walk Juan Soto, which led to Aaron Judge popping out to the shortstop.
Despite Jazz Chisholm scoring in the Top of the 10th inning, to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead, the game ended with Freddie Freeman hitting a walk-off grand slam, as the Dodgers won 6-3 in Game 1 of the World Series.
FREDDIE FREEMAN WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/5MIY5CaX6a
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Some pointed out that the fan interference was very reminiscent of Yankees legend Derek Jeter's home run in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS series (5-4 win) vs. the Baltimore Orioles, which was caught by a fan named Jeffrey Maier.
OTD in 1996, Derek Jeter homered in Game 1 of the ALCS with a little bit of help from 12-year-old Yankees fan Jeffrey Maier.
Jeter says, "Say what you want, it was a home run. It's not 'ruled', it was a home run." 😂 pic.twitter.com/NBLtX0ibdu
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2024
AP/Mark Lennihan
Unlike the controversial ruling in 1996, the umpires made the right call 28 years later, which means the Yankees weren't saved by a fan once again.
