Controversial fan interference call costs Astros in first inning of Game 4 of ALCS

Steve Gardner | USA TODAY

A potentially pivotal play in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series turned what could have been a game-tying home run into a routine fly ball out. All because fans in the front row of the right field seats tried to grab themselves a souvenir.

With the Boston Red Sox scoring twice in the top of the first inning, the homestanding Houston Astros appeared to counter with a runner on base and 2017 AL MVP Jose Altuve at the plate.

Altuve connected, but Boston's Gold Glove right fielder, Mookie Betts, leaped high above the seven-foot outfield wall into a sea of hands.

The ball hit off someone's hands and ricocheted back into the field of play, but right field umpire and crew chief Joe West ruled the fans interfered with Betts' opportunity to make the catch.

Therefore, Altuve was out.

Mookie Betts was about to rob José Altuve of a home run ... until a fan's hand got in the way.



It was ruled an out on review. pic.twitter.com/NLzAnNJ1vj — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2018

"He just said that there was fan interference on the field, and my argument was more about the fact that the ball was leaving the yard, the trajectory was there," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said during an in-game interview with TBS.

"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 is unbelievable."

Under baseball Rule 6.01 (e): "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 onto 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."

Since it was a boundary call, the play automatically triggered a replay review. However, MLB replay officials could not make a conclusive determination where the ball was at the time.

"After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official could not definitively determine that the spectator failed to reach out of the stands and over the playing field, clearly preventing the fielder from catching the ball. The call STANDS, the batter is out, and the runner returns to first base," MLB said in a statement.

The Astros' rally fizzled. And the fans were incensed.

So if a player is IN the stands fans are suppose to move over? If those are the rules MLB shouldn’t let fans sit there. They didn’t reach over the fence. @MLB — Kate Upton (@KateUpton) October 18, 2018

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