HOUSTON — Controversy came early in Wednesday night’s Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
In the bottom of the first inning, Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve launched a fly ball to the right-field wall that prompted Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts to go into a full jump. As Betts extended his arm high over the 7-foot wall, the ball bounced back onto the field of play.
Replays appeared to show that Betts’ left arm stretched over the wall and into the sea of fans. As he tried to make the catch, Betts’ glove closed a split-second too early, possibly because it made contact on its back side with a fan’s hands. From there, the ball touched a fan before coming back onto the field.
Originally, umpires ruled Altuve was out via fan interference.
Immediately, Astros manager A.J. Hinch popped out of the dugout to argue with crew chief and right-field umpire Joe West, who made the initial call. Their conversation took West and his crew to replay.
After 3 minutes, 13 seconds, the review resulted in the call standing. Altuve was declared out via fly out to Betts because of fan interference, nullifying what would have been a potential game-tying, two-run home run. George Springer was sent back to first base.
“[West] just said that it was fan interference on the field. And my argument was more about that the ball was leaving the yard, the trajectory was there,” Hinch told Fox during the game telecast. “Jose paid kind of the ultimate price for something out of his control.
“I’m not sure if Mookie makes that catch. He’s a great athlete. But how it’s an assumed out, it’s unbelievable.”
#Postseason craziness in Houston … pic.twitter.com/ldNRUR22XN
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2018
Astros fan Troy Caldwell, who was seen in replays going for the fly ball while wearing an orange shirt, told ESPN that the ball hit his hand and that another fan, Jared Tomanek, actually touched Betts’ glove.
“I never touched his glove, I can guarantee you that. But I definitely touched the ball,” Caldwell said. “The ball hit me right in the hand. I’m so damn ashamed I missed it.”
He added: “If Boston wins this series, then Joe West is the MVP. I’ll give that to you right now.”
Tomanek told ESPN he didn’t think there was any wrongdoing.
“The ball was coming hard, we wanted to catch it,” he said. “We didn’t cross over the top of the line or anything. We weren’t hanging over at all.”
According to MLB Rule 3.16, “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.”
The rule further states that “no interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.”
After the umpires’ final call was made, Minute Maid Park was filled with boos. Hinch came back out of the dugout to argue with West, before turning his head suddenly and walking away as if he was displeased with what he had heard.
Betts, as soon as he saw the out call, gave a fist-pump. Springer slammed his helmet down at the ultimate ruling.
Fans continued to boo West between innings as he returned to his post near the right-field line.
Source:ESPN
