A spectator waving a Palestinian flag interrupted the Yankees-Mets game at Yankee Stadium at 9:11 p.m. on Friday night, the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The man entered the field from the left-field seats in the top of the seventh inning and sprinted toward center field. At the time, the Yankees led 5-2 with the bases loaded, two outs, and a 3-2 count on Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.
The protestor evaded several security officers and police for a few seconds before being tackled on the outfield grass. The spectator wore a jersey that read “No Kings.”
Security detained him and escorted him off the field beyond the center-field wall. Fans seated above the Mets bullpen threw beer cans and drinks at him. The crowd booed as he was removed and then broke into “USA” chants.
The delay lasted only a few minutes. Reliever Brent Headrick threw warm-up pitches during the stoppage and needed just one pitch to retire Lindor on a line drive back to the mound when play resumed. The Yankees held on for a 6-4 victory before a sold-out crowd of 47,410.
The incident occurred after extensive pregame ceremonies honoring those killed on September 11, 2001. Members of the 2001 Yankees, including Derek Jeter, stood on the field. A husband and wife who each lost a father in the attacks threw the ceremonial first pitches. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA.”
The Yankees declined to comment on the field intrusion.
The game marked the first meeting of New York’s two teams on the anniversary date in five years.
