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Fans who interfered with Betts banned from attending Game 5

Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / Getty

MLB and the New York Yankees banned the two fans who interfered with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during Game 4 from attending Game 5, the Yankees announced Wednesday.

A team statement said that the league and the Yankees share a "zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed," which the statement described as "egregious and unacceptable physical contact" with Betts.

The fans had tickets for tonight's game and will be refunded, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

"Maybe one of the more extreme (ones), trying to rip a ball out," Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo said of the incident, per SNY. "At the same time, that's kind of New York.

"I feel like that's what you expect out here. You expect some unique things. At the end of the day, I didn't feel like it was too serious, and I think Mookie kind of shook it off, too. That's just kind of the passion I guess New Yorkers have."

The incident occurred during the first inning of Game 4 on Tuesday night. Betts made a catch at the wall in foul territory before a pair of fans ripped the ball out of his glove. The umpiring crew ruled it a successful catch and awarded the Dodgers the out.

Officials later escorted the interfering fans out of Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees ultimately won 11-4 to keep their season alive.

Betts called the incident "irrelevant" postgame, focusing instead on the Dodgers' loss and looking ahead to Game 5.

Jack Flaherty will take the mound opposite Yankees ace Gerrit Cole with a chance to win the World Series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.

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