The New York Yankees were swept out of the ALDS at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3, but that didn't come without a little controversy.

Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe hit what initially was ruled a game-tying home run in the sixth inning, which would've given the team new life after going down 4-2. However, that play went to replay review with the umpires ultimately taking the play away from Volpe, awarding him second base instead.

From that moment on, neither team scored another run, making Volpe's play the deciding moment in the game as the Rays won 4-3. However, New York can't blame the umpires on this play, as it does seem like they made the right decision to take the homer away from Volpe.

Here's a look at why replay overturned Volpe's home run.

Yankees fan interference

With the Yankees down two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and with George Lombard on first base, Anthony Volpe hit what appeared to be a game-tying home run to left field. However, immediately, it was clear that this would need to be reviewed for fan interference.

After the umpires reviewed the play, they determined that there was fan interference on the play, placing Volpe at second base but allowing Lombard to score.

Shades of Jeffrey Maier in the Bronx! Anthony Volpe's blast to left field is pulled into the stands by a fan. After initially being ruled a game-tying home run, it's overturned on review and ruled a double. https://t.co/xsM1Y4vQfT

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2026

Spencer Jones was next up and he struck out to strand Volpe at third base, leaving that fourth run on the board. The Yankees would fail to score the rest of the way, leading fans to wonder if they were robbed of Volpe's run.

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What is fan interference in baseball?

Major League Baseball's rules towards fan interference allow umpires to determine what they think would have happened if there was no fan in the play. Umpires are allowed to place runners wherever they deem fit depending on how the play unfolded.

"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," the rules say. "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."

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Why Anthony Volpe’s home run was called back

When reviewing the play, the umpires determined that Volpe's ball has going to hit the wall had it not been for the fan who who interfered in the play.

After replay review, the Yankees pull within a run on Anthony Volpe's RBI double! https://t.co/6Fua0LNVBQ

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2026

"After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play," MLB said in a statement. "The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught. The call is OVERTURNED, there was spectator interference and no home run. Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at 2B."

Additionally, the reason Lombard scored instead of being awarded two bases like in a ground-rule double is because the replay officials believed he would have scored easily on a Volpe double with two outs in the inning. It certainly seems like the officials made the right decision based on the information they had.