Fan Causes Volpe to Lose Game-Tying HR. Tampa 4 NY 3

October 8, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Anthony Volpe robbed of a game-tying 2-run HR by an overzealous set of fans who stuck their hands over the wall. The ball appeared to be headed to the top of the wall -- where it would have either bounced over or back into play for a triple.

Anthony Volpe hit a 2-run HR just over the left-field wall to tie the game 4-4 in the 6th inning as Yankee Stadium erupted in jubilation — but 3 fans reached out over the wall to grab the ball before it went over — and one fan did — the ball bouncing off his hand and into the stands. The umpires reviewed the play and called fan interference, and the game-tying HR was turned into an RBI double, with Volpe put at 2nd base.

The Yankees never scored another run and lost 4-3 to Tampa — and were eliminated 3 games to 0 in the best of 5 ALDS. On a beautiful, 65-degree Wednesday night in the Bronx.

Replays were inconclusive but it looked like the ball would have hit the top of the wall and bounced over for a HR, or possibly bounced back into play. The outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. had no chance at it.

That’s baseball Suzyn.

12 to 1 odds of going all the way if you make the playoffs.

“Right now you’re just in the moment and feeling for guys, and trying to pick up the pieces,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards.

1. Tampa Takes 1-0 Lead in 3rd

Max Fried started for the Yanks and pitched well — yet allowed 4 runs in 5.2 innings — 3 of the runs coming on 2 HR balls. His curveball and sweeper were filthy, and he struck out 7 while walking 2.

Fried allowed a leadoff single to Yandy Diaz to begin the ballgame, but then got a doubleplay and retired 5 in a row, pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd to breeze into the 3rd.

But he got touched for 2 infield singles in the 3rd — one by Jonny DeLuca leading off, and one by Taylor Walls — a nubber down 3rd with 1 out. Fried stuck out Yandy Diaz, but Jonathan Aranda clipped him for a single to right to make it 1-0 Tampa — Aranda getting caught in a rundown between 1st and 2nd — then Walls breaking for home and the Yanks throwing him out in a rundown instead.

2. Rice Drives in S Jones to Tie It 1-1 in Bottom of 3rd

But the Yanks came right back against Tampa starter Nick Martinez in the bottom of the 3rd — Spencer Jones working a 7-pitch walk, going to 2nd on a groundout, and scoring on a 2-out RBI single to right by Ben Rice — who was absolutely amazing all playoffs.

Luis Garcia Jr. singled behind Rice, but Cody Bellinger ripped a grounder to 2nd for the final out.

3. Tampa Takes 2-1 Lead in 4th

Fried got the first 2 batters of the top of the 4th and was again in total command — when Ryan Vilade clipped him for a HR into the short porch in right, “just” over the reach of 6’7 Spencer Jones playing out there. Tampa 2 NY 1.

4. S Jones Doubles in Volpe to Tie It 2-2 in Bottom of 4th

But the Yanks came right back in the bottom of the 4th. George Lombard led off with an infield single, but Austin Wells hit into a doubleplay.

With 2 outs, Anthony Volpe ripped a SHOT up the middle that hit pitcher Nick Martinez in the backside. He couldn’t find the ball and Volpe was safe with an infield single.

The Rays took Martinez out — due to being hit but also because the Yanks were ripping the ball off him. In came Ian Seymour the lefty to face lefty Spencer Jones.

And Spencer Jones ripped a double to left to score Volpe and tie the game 2-2.

5. Fried Allows 2-Run HR To Mesa in Top of 6th

Fried pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 5th, and got the first 2 outs of the 6th and again appeared in total control. But with 2 outs, Junior Caminero ripped a single to center, and Victor Mesa Jr. got all of a hanging curveball for a HR to right center and 4-2 Tampa lead.

6. Volpe Robbed of 2-Run HR by Fan in Bottom of 6th

After Seymour pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 5th, the Rays brought in Griffin Jax to pitch the bottom of the 6th.

Cody Bellinger lined out to shortstop, but George Lombard Jr. worked a 1-out walk off Jax. Austin Wells then worked a 3-2 walk — but Tampa challenged the 4th ball call and won — and Wells was called out on strikes.

So up stepped Anthony Volpe with a runner on and 2 outs in a 4-2 game.

And Anthony Volpe came through with a 2-run HR to left!!!!! Tie game!!!!!

NOT.

After ump review they called fan interference and put Volpe at 2nd, the run scoring. Tampa 4 NY 3.

Next batter Spencer Jones struck out and the inning was over.

Yankee Twitter/X lit up with intense anger at the fan — with some pointing out it might not have been a HR anyway and others saying it would have been a HR. The fan was seen escorted out of The Stadium by security.

7. Blackburn & Bednar Brilliant

Paul Blackburn was absolutely brilliant in relief again — relieving Fried after the Mesa HR in the 6th and getting the last out, then pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th and getting the first out of the 8th before yielding to David Bednar.

And Bednar was brilliant as usual — getting the last 2 outs of the 8th (in between a called ‘hit by pitch’ that barely grazed the batter), then pitching a 1-2-3 shutout 9th.

8. Yanks Get Baserunner in 8th

Meanwhile, Griffin Jaz pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 7th in the 4-3 game.

Lefty Cam Booser came in to pitch the 8th and the Yanks pinch hit Paul Goldschmidt. Goldy hit a sharp grounder deep to 3rd and Junior Caminero made a play on it — but one-bounced the ball to 1st and Aranda could not pick it. An error was charged to Caminero although it looked like it should have been on Aranda.

The Yanks had the tying run on base — and the possible winning run at the plate. But Bellinger flied out to medium right and Lombard hit into a fielder’s choice to shortstop.

With 2 outs, the Yankees pinch-hit Giancarlo Stanton — and the Rays countered with righty Kevin Kelly. And Kelly struck out Stanton swinging at a 2-2 changeup outside.

And so it was to the  bottom of the 9th with Ace righty Bryan Baker on the mound for Tampa. Volpe struck out to leadoff but Spencer Jones — that name again — worked a walk.

Up came Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the potential winning run. But he hit a doubleplay grounder to 2nd — “JUST” beating it out at 1st to keep the Yanks’ hopes alive.

Trent Grisham was the last Yankee chance — a chance to win the game and be a hero. Chisholm stole 2nd so all Grisham had to do was get a single to tie the game. But he struck out swinging for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401907987

 

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