A Yankees-Mets game on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 was interrupted in the top of the seventh when a fan ran onto the field at Yankee Stadium at 9:11 p.m. carrying a Palestinian flag and wearing a “No Kings” jersey.
The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty posted the scene as it happened. “Security tackles a fan who ran onto the field at Yankee Stadium at 9:11 p.m. with a Palestinian flag.” He also wrote, “Fans threw beer cans at him once security got him beyond the outfield wall.”
The man came out of the left-field seats and headed toward center before security caught up to him on the outfield grass. Officials escorted him past the center-field wall, where fans above the Mets bullpen threw cans and drinks. The crowd booed and then started chanting “USA.”
At the time of the stoppage, the Mets had the bases loaded with Francisco Lindor at the plate, two outs, and a 3-2 count. The Yankees were ahead 5-2. After the delay, Brent Headrick threw a few warm-up pitches, and Lindor lined out to end the inning.
TMZ later identified the fan as 38-year-old Kelly Marcucci. Police charged him with trespass and a local ordinance violation. The Yankees declined to comment.
The timing landed especially hard because Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Derek Jeter and other members of the 2001 club were at the ballpark, and a husband and wife who each lost a father on Sept. 11 threw out the first pitches. Flags around the frieze were at half-mast, and the Yankees had spent the afternoon in Monument Park.
Security concerns at the stadium have already been in the spotlight, including a June lawsuit from a spectator who said a flying bat cleared the netting and caused a $10 million injury claim. This episode was different: a political stunt on a memorial date, followed by a brief stoppage, an out, and a loud chorus of “USA” chants as the game moved on.
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