Fan interference denies Anthony Volpe a tying homer for Yankees against Rays in Game 3 of ALDS

During Game 3 of the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, a fan in left field inadvertently cost the Yankees a crucial home run. With two outs in the sixth inning, Anthony Volpe hit a 1-0 pitch to left field that appeared to be a two-run, game-tying home run to the crowd.

However, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that a fan had reached out and the ball struck his outstretched arms before it fell over the fence. The Rays' left fielder, Victor Mesa Jr., was attempting to catch the ball and immediately alerted the officials. Following a replay review, it was determined that the fan had interfered with the ball over the playing field, ruling it as fan interference and a double for the Yankees.

This resulted in the Yankees pulling within 4-3, ultimately leading Spencer Jones to strike out and strand Volpe, who was on second base. The replay officials definitively established that the spectator had interfered with the ball, preventing it from remaining in fair territory or being caught by the Rays' players. The incident echoes a similar situation from 30 years prior, when 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reached over the right-field wall at the old Yankee Stadium during Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles in 1996, allowing Derek Jeter's fly ball to be caught, ultimately tying the game.

Unlike the 2026 incident, there was no replay available to rectify the situation, and the Yankees went on to win the game 11 innings later with a home run by Bernie Williams, clinching their series victory and ultimately, the World Series.