A fan at Coors Field did their best Jeffrey Maier impression on Sunday afternoon.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of a scoreless tie between the Rockies and Mariners, Colorado catcher Jacob Stallings took a first-pitch fastball from Seattle reliever Ryne Stanek and launched it toward the left field stands.
The Rockies thought for sure he had a walk-off home run. However, as Mariners outfielder Dylan Moore raced to the wall and jumped up for the game-saving grab, the ball bounced back into play. Stallings was forced to hustle into second with what appeared, at the very least, to be a double.
However, upon further review, it was not the wall or Moore's glove that brought the baseball back into play — it was the mitt of a fan attempting to reach over the fence and make the grab himself.
After review, Stallings was shockingly ruled out, causing disbelief in the Rockies dugout and a rain of boos pouring down from the Colorado faithful at Coors Field.
Why was Stallings ruled out on the ball? The Sporting News explains.
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Mariners-Rockies fan interference video
When Stallings launched the fastball from Stanek to the left field warning track, it looked like it was headed for the bleachers, ending the game. However, a fan in the front row reached over the wall and got in the way of both the baseball leaving the park and Moore's attempt to catch it.
The umpiring crew went to review the play. The Rockies broadcast believed that while the play would not be deemed a home run, it would be a double, putting the game-winning run in scoring position with two outs in the inning.
Instead, the umpires came back and announced that Stallings was out due to fan interference, sending the game to extra innings. Despite the pleas from Stallings and Rockies manager Bud Black, the call stood.
What should have been a walk-off home run for Jacob Stallings was called an out due to fan interference pic.twitter.com/yL9Pj6yGTo
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 21, 2024
The baseball gods were looking out for the Rockies. After Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th, Colorado scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to win the game 2-1. Infielder Ryan McMahon's infield single ended up being the walk-off winner.
What is the fan interference rule in baseball?
In the MLB, there is a specific rule put in place that applies when fans reach into what is deemed as the field of play and interfere with a defender's ability to make a play on the baseball.
This is called spectator interference, and here is the official rule:
"In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed where the umpire determines they would have been without the interference. When a spectator clearly prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball by reaching onto the field of play, the batter shall be ruled out.
But no interference is called if a spectator comes in contact with a batted or thrown ball without reaching onto the field of play -- even if a fielder might have caught the ball had the spectator not been there."
The umpiring crew in the Rockies-Mariners game deemed that the spectator reached into the field of play, thus preventing Moore from catching the ball. As a result, Stallings was automatically ruled out on the play.
