Watch: Red Sox catch break on controversial fan interference in Game 4
A fan in Houston may have robbed Jose Altuve of a 2-run home run during the bottom of the first inning of ALCS Game 4 at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday night on a highly controversial play.
Altuve was up with one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the first inning. Altuve hit a ball deep to right field that appeared to be heading over the wall. Mookie Betts had the ball measured and leaped to make a catch, but a fan pushed his glove closed at the last minute, preventing Betts from robbing the home run.
The ball was knocked back onto the field by the fans, leading Altuve to get a double. However, umpire Joe West called it fan interference on the field, which would make Altuve out.
#Postseason craziness in Houston … pic.twitter.com/ldNRUR22XN
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2018
Wanna get away? #ALCS pic.twitter.com/zOirsSoM5h
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2018
The play was immediately reviewed. Upon review, the call on the field made by umpire crew chief Joe West stood but was not confirmed, which is an important distinction signifying they could not find overwhelming evidence to overturn the original call.
Altuve being called out put George Springer back at first with two outs in the bottom of the first.
There is a big question about whether or not the fans had reached into the field of play to interfere or whether the interference occurred in the stands. By the rules, if the interference occurred in the field of play, the batter would be out, but otherwise, it would have been a home run.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 18, 2018
The Red Sox caught a break with the way West made the initial call on the field.