In a game that saw everything from fan interference to a thrilling Yankees comeback, Game 4 of the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers was nothing short of memorable. Tensions were high from the start, as a bizarre incident involving Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts and two overzealous Yankees fans unfolded.
As Betts leaped into foul territory to snag a pop-up from Yankees batter Gleyber Torres, two fans in the front row grabbed at him, with one prying the ball from his glove and the other latching onto his non-glove hand. Torres was called out for fan interference, and the two fans were promptly ejected from the stadium, later banned from attending Game 5.
Despite the rocky start, Yankees catcher Austin Wells spearheaded the Yankees’ revival at the plate with a breakout performance. Coming off a tough stretch with only four hits in his last 43 postseason at-bats, Wells shook off the slump, smashing a double in the second inning to help bring Anthony Volpe to third. Volpe’s dash home on a groundout by Alex Verdugo put the Yankees on the board, marking the beginning of an offensive surge that the Yankees had been missing all series.
“Well, A for effort.”
Fan interference was called on this play where a Yankee fan tried to take the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024
Wells’ impact only grew as the night went on. In the sixth inning, he launched a 384-foot home run into the right-field stands, giving the Yankees a comfortable two-run cushion and igniting the Yankee Stadium crowd.
His emphatic bat flip after the homer said it all: Wells was finally finding his rhythm, and so were the Bronx Bombers. He credited the team’s turnaround to an attitude adjustment, telling reporters, “I just said screw it,” acknowledging that the team was embracing a more carefree and aggressive approach.
With double-digit runs on the board for the first time in this year’s playoffs, the Yankees’ bats seemed reborn, and their entire lineup contributed. Aaron Boone praised the bottom of the lineup, noting Volpe, Wells, and Verdugo’s clutch at-bats. Volpe’s eighth-inning heroics saw him score on a close play at the plate, rounding off a night where the Yankees kept the pressure on the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
Meanwhile, Dodgers fans and players alike were stunned by the unusual interference play. Rookie pitcher Ben Casparius noted that the incident “set the tone,” possibly shifting momentum as the Dodgers watched their two-run lead dissolve in the face of the Yankees’ relentless offense. Even Betts, the focus of the interference controversy, seemed exasperated. Although he initially reacted in frustration, he shifted his focus to the upcoming Game 5, saying, “We lost. It’s irrelevant… we got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow.”
BOTH Yankees fans were kicked out, that’s one way to waste almost $2K each.
pic.twitter.com/emyOdZ5nZc— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) October 30, 2024
The Yankees’ Game 4 victory kept their World Series hopes alive and spoiled the Dodgers’ chances for a sweep, sending the series back to Los Angeles. As the Yankees head into Game 5, they’ll look to maintain their newfound offensive firepower and resilience, hoping to continue their comeback and keep the championship dream alive.
AP News and New York Post
