ESPN analyst Ben McDonald offered some major praise of Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo's ability to induce soft contact during Wednesday's Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Baltimore Orioles.
While rattling off some stats about the lack of home runs hit against Lugo this year, Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins quickly made him eat those words.
"He's only allowed 16 home runs this year in 210 innings of work. Now, that is a low number. He keeps the ball in the ballpark," said McDonald of Lugo.
On the very next pitch, Mullins deposited Lugo's offering into the right field seats.
That's some truly unfortunate timing for McDonald, and Sean McDonough captured the moment flawlessly while seated next to him in the broadcast booth.
"If you are a Royals fan, you are blaming Ben McDonald and the announcer jinx," he said as Mullins trotted around the bases, having tied the game at 1–1.
Mullins's solo shot was the first run scored by the Orioles this postseason after they were blanked by Kansas City in Game 1.
Lugo had only surrendered one home run in the month of September, during which he made five starts and pitched a total of 27 2/3 innings. McDonald was clearly impressed with what he'd seen from the 34-year-old, though he may be wishing he'd waited a few more seconds before offering his praise.
Everton were beaten 3-0 at home to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday as David Moyes’ striker problems were laid bare once again.
Blunt Everton attack leaves Moyes frustrated
It was a sobering afternoon for David Moyes’ side, who lost in the league for the first time at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, despite having plenty of chances to get back into the game.
Speaking after the match, Moyes said that Everton didn’t deserve to be on the end of a 3-0 defeat, but accepted that improvements are needed in certain areas.
“I don’t think that we deserved to lose 3-0 but if you don’t defend set pieces well enough, then you’re always liable to lose the game. It’s not something that’s been a big problem with us but it was today, whether that was because of the quality Spurs had or whether it was down to how poor we were defending it, then that could be argued.
“Some good things and, obviously, I’m annoyed because we don’t defend our set pieces as poorly as that normally, so we’ll need to try to improve on it. We’ve been pretty good at it. Overall, the play was good enough to earn more than we did today, we’ve just got to try to tighten up and finish off some of the good play and the chances we have.”
Everton’s goal threat has been lacking all season, with another blank coming their way on Sunday, and one attacking player is really struggling at the moment.
Beto criticised as Blues striker without a goal since August
According to Sky Sports reporter Alan Myers for Everton News, Beto was on the receiving end of some criticism from one Everton fan after the Spurs defeat.
He claims he overheard one supporter “describe Beto as that riderless horse in the Grand National that keeps going even though he’s never going to win the race,” in a brutal assessment of the striker.
Myers adds that “maybe that’s a bit harsh, but as I’ve said often his endeavor and hard work cannot be criticised but as a striker, you will be judged on goals and he just isn’t scoring enough of them”, with the 27-year-old labelled “absolutely hopeless” by Toffees podcaster Paul Brown.
Beto arguably needs to be taken out of the firing line at this point, with the striker’s effort levels strong, but his quality simply not there week in, week out.
Alongside Beto: Moyes must drop 4/10 Everton star who lost possession 19x
Everton were humbled on their own patch as Tottenham Hotspur ran out convincing 3-0 winners.
By
Kelan Sarson
Oct 27, 2025
The Portuguese target man has still only scored once in the Premier League in nine appearances so far this season, but the issue for Moyes is that outside of an inexperienced Thierno Barry, he doesn’t really have anyone else to turn to.
Whether The Friedkin Group back the manager with a new number nine in January may well determine the success of their season.
Cristhian Mosquera has revealed he grew up supporting Arsenal because of the Gunners' 'aura', and has gone on to become one of Mikel Arteta’s newest breakout stars in defence. The 21-year-old, signed from Valencia in 2025, says the Gunners boss played a crucial role in convincing him to join, with his trademark intensity shining through from their very first conversation.
Mosquera impresses at Arsenal on debut season
Mosquera has enjoyed a rapid and impressive start to life at Arsenal after arriving in the summer of 2025. Brought in initially as a rotational option behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, he quickly found himself stepping into high-pressure fixtures earlier than anticipated due to injuries. Despite the Premier League’s notorious learning curve for young defenders, he has handled the challenge with remarkable composure and confidence.
Those performances have earned him strong internal praise and growing external recognition, marking him as one of the most astute value signings of the season. Arsenal spent around £13 million to secure his services, a fee that already looks like a bargain given the quality he has displayed.
While Arsenal’s original plan may have been to ease him into the intensity and tactical complexity of Arteta’s system, his form has forced a rethink. Instead of waiting years to develop, Mosquera has placed himself directly into the first-team conversation. His early success has not only boosted squad depth but also strengthened Arsenal’s long-term future at the heart of their defence.
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Mosquera opens up on Arsenal's 'aura' and 'intense' Arteta
Mosquera openly admits that Arsenal were already part of his football identity growing up. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “I always watched the Premier League. In fact, my team was Arsenal. The players, the shirt. I saw them as a bit different: they had something, an aura.”
He revealed the decisive moment in choosing the Gunners came after talking with Mikel Arteta: “Before I had decided, someone in my camp said: ‘The moment you speak to Mikel, there’s no way he won’t convince you.’ And that’s exactly how it happened. When the call finished, my destination couldn’t have been clearer.”
Mosquera also described Arteta’s famous personality and coaching style: “Yes, totally, totally. He really lives for football, he was raised on it, experienced everything. You see that when he talks. He loves the detail, sees things other eyes might not. I’m so happy with him. He’s an incredible person and he’s helping me a lot. The staff have made it easy. Arsenal is an incredible club.”
He then gave insight into his swift settling-in period in London: “I’ve settled super fast, which I didn’t expect before I came but I could see it in the first few days. What I’ve most liked about London is that you get there and the myth about the English being cold isn’t true at all. You’re immediately convinced you’ll settle, not just because of the team and coaching staff but the people at the club who don’t get seen from the outside and are fundamental. I was in a hotel but with their help I’ve got a house.”
Mosquera had been courted by multiple clubs before Arsenal move
Mosquera’s signing marked a major coup for Arsenal in the 2025 market, as he was being closely monitored by top clubs across Europe. Having earned an Olympic gold medal with Spain and emerged as one of La Liga’s standout young defenders at Valencia, his availability sparked immediate interest. However, Arsenal’s early groundwork and Arteta’s personal pitch ensured his move to north London happened smoothly.
The 21-year-old’s versatility has already shown its value as he has filled in on either side of central defence while maintaining a strong level of performance. Ability on the ball has always been a requirement for defenders under Arteta, and Mosquera fits that profile perfectly; able to carry possession forward or initiate attacks through progressive passing lanes. His integration has been so successful that there has been no noticeable drop-off in Arsenal’s system when he plays.
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Mosquera could start again following Gabriel's injury
Arsenal’s first-choice partnership remains Saliba and Gabriel, but Mosquera has put genuine pressure on that hierarchy. With a packed fixture schedule and potential rotation required in upcoming marquee matches, more opportunities are inevitable for the young Spaniard. His ability to step up without hesitation ensures he is no longer considered merely backup, but real competition.
With Gabriel's recent injury on international duty with Brazil, Mosquera may bag another start for Arsenal when they take on Tottenham on November 23. The Spaniard could also feature against Bayern Munich in the Champions League next midweek.
The defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers have continued their quest to upgrade their championship club from this past season.
The Dodgers on Friday agreed to terms on a three-year contract with infielder Hyeseong Kim of the KBO League, according to multiple reports. Daniel Kim of ESPN was first to report the news. The deal reportedly has the option for an additional two years.
Regarded as one of the top hitters in the KBO, Kim was posted on Dec. 4 by his team, the Kiwoom Heroes, opening up the 30-day window for the 25-year-old to sign with an MLB team.
In 953 games, Kim has posted a .304/.364/.403 slash line. A left-handed batter, Kim hit .326 with a .383 OBP, stealing 30 bases, his seventh straight season with 20-plus swipes, for the Heroes in '24.
A versatile and capable defender, Kim has spent time at second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots in the KBO. He has twice won a KBO Golden Glove at the keystone and once at shortstop.
With Los Angeles, Kim figures to add valuable depth to a middle infield that includes the likes of eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux and Miguel Rojas.
As far as Arne Slot’s Liverpool are concerned, there hasn’t been much to write home about this season.
It’s been difficult, for a great number of reasons, and the Reds have slumped to five defeats from six matches in the Premier League. They say it’s too early to make such calls at this stage of the campaign, but Liverpool simply cannot be considered as title contenders unless something significant shifts in the coming weeks and months.
Physicality and control. Two central tenets of any Premier League midfield worth their salt, and especially so for Liverpool. However, Slot’s side have lacked both in equally concerning measure for much of the term so far.
And with that in mind, we can’t help but recall the days of Gini Wijnaldum in the middle of the park, for the Dutchman is very much missed right now.
Why Gini Wijnaldum left Liverpool
Wijnaldum has plied his trade away from Anfield for four years now, and it’s perhaps fair to say that Liverpool have not replaced his profile in the years since. The 35-year-old was very distinctive in his style for the Reds.
Liverpool signed Wijnaldum from Newcastle United in 2016 after their relegation from the Premier League. Wijnaldum was among the standout Magpies that year.
He was an attacking midfielder and had put four past Norwich City early in the campaign, a bright flicker in a dark year on Tyneside. However, Jurgen Klopp fashioned the Dutchman into an industrious, press-resistent central midfielder, part of an energetic centre that charged Liverpool’s glittering success of the past decade.
Though Wijnaldum didn’t score often for the Merseysiders, he came up trumps on a few occasions, alright, and scribed his name into the record books when bagging a brace off the bench on that night against Barcelona.
So cool and composed and calm on the ball, Gini was the metronome in the middle. To think that he played in advanced roles with consistency during his days with Newcastle and PSV Eindhoven before that is a marker of Klopp’s tactical brain, successfully reshaping into something that produced fewer show-stopping moments but contributed more greatly to the Liverpool project.
Liverpool miss him, for sure, but there’s a member of Slot’s squad who is beginning to show signs of the Netherlands man’s former qualities.
Liverpool's new version of Wijnaldum
Slot’s own ‘version’ of Wijnaldum might not be stylistically the same, but he’s playing a versatile and yet singular role for the Anfield side this season.
Enter Dominik Szoboszlai, the shining light of Liverpool’s dreary campaign so far.
The Hungarian has been hailed by reporter Lewis Steele as being Liverpool’s “player of the season” so far. Admittedly, the bar isn’t high, but Szoboszlai ranks highly across the whole of Europe in regard to individual efforts, having matured into a leader as well as a tireless source of energy and a technically proficient technician.
To say that he’s come on leaps and bounds would be quite the understatement, and this with Liverpool struggling to muster any kind of form.
Klopp oversaw the £60m signing of RB Leipzig’s talented playmaker in 2023, beating Newcastle to his signature. Szoboszlai has ebbed and flowed in a Liverpool shirt, criticised at times for his lack of end product. At the end of Klopp’s reign, Szoboszlai fell out to the fringes, starting only one of the final six Premier League fixtures of the term, and was hooked at half-time during a miserable home defeat to Crystal Palace before that.
Dominik Szoboszlai under Arne Slot (Prem)
Stats (* per game)
24/25
25/26
Matches (starts)
36 (29)
11 (11)
Goals
6
1
Assists
6
1
Touches*
46.1
82.6
Accurate passes*
29.6 (86%)
52.1 (87%)
Key passes*
1.6
1.5
Dribble (success)*
0.6 (55%)
0.8 (60%)
Recoveries*
3.7
6.1
Tackles + interceptions*
1.4
2.7
Clearances*
0.4
2.5
Duels (won)*
2.8 (43%)
4.2 (51%)
Data via Sofascore
Since Slot has taken to the dugout, Szoboszlai’s role has changed some, and that has become crystal clear this season, for he has never been more involved, never more entrusted with a starring role in the side, hailed as a “proper leader” and Liverpool’s star man by content creator Jonathan Morley.
Szoboszlai is a player whose skill and tenacity out of possession, his intelligence and vision and ability to do the right thing at the right time, make him a unique and priceless part of a system. Wijnaldum-esque, perhaps.
Gini was, after all, lauded as being “irreplaceable” for Liverpool by correspondent Richard Jolly. He wasn’t a vocal leader on the field, but the former Netherlands international provided a calming presence, redefined once he settled in on Merseyside and then became a central part of one of the glittering outfits of their age.
Jurgen Klopp and Gini Wijnaldum
Liverpool may not be at the races this season, but there’s a long road still ahead, and with Szoboszlai shaping into an all-action midfielder of the highest class, Slot’s own version of Wijnaldum, there will be hope that the rest of these talented players can recover their levels and match Szoboszlai’s commitment and desire.
His free-kick against Arsenal, sealing victory against Mikel Arteta’s title challengers toward the start of the season, his Man of the Match performances on a number of occasions already, Szoboszlai is the real deal, alright, and when Liverpool do return to form, he might just reach even loftier levels under Slot’s wing.
Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s standout player this season, and though this has been tempered by the otherwise miserable performances, solace can be found in the knowledge that Slot has unearthed the club’s latest superstar.
FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz
Liverpool are already starting to regret this £15m sale.
Lionel Messi extended his remarkable scoring streak in the MLS Cup Playoffs, netting his ninth goal in seven matches to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead over FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinal. The Argentine legend struck in the 18th minute, showcasing his aerial ability as he rose to meet a pinpoint cross from young winger Mateo Silvetti, silencing the packed crowd inside TQL Stadium.
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Argentine connection
Messi gave Inter Miami a crucial advantage in their Eastern Conference semifinal against FC Cincinnati, heading home in the 18th minute to put the visitors up 1-0 at TQL Stadium. The goal came after a swift counterattack sparked by former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who intercepted a misplaced pass from Nick Hagglund in midfield.
Alba quickly found Messi in a central pocket, and the forward slid a perfectly weighted ball out to Argentine winger Mateo Silvetti on the left. The youngster delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Messi met it with a bouncing header that beat goalkeeper Roman Celentano and nestled into the far corner.
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Miami's tactical approach pays dividends
Inter Miami's tactical setup under head coach Javier Mascherano has proven effective thus far, with the team looking to advance to its first Eastern Conference final since joining MLS in 2020. Despite playing away from home, Miami have executed their game plan perfectly, absorbing Cincinnati's early pressure before striking clinically on the counter-attack.
The hosts had their best chance in the 22nd minute when forward Ender Echenique narrowly missed equalizing, his shot sliding just inches wide of the far post. The goal also sparked something in Miami, as Rodriguez fired a shot at Celentano after being fed in the area by Messi, only for the keeper to parry it clear.
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Messi's playoff dominance showcases continued excellence
Messi's header against Cincinnati further cements his status as the most influential player in Major League Soccer. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, the Argentine superstar has transformed the franchise from expansion strugglers to legitimate title contenders, bringing unprecedented global attention to the league.
On Tuesday, the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes made a play worthy of their namesakes from .
The sequence began innocently enough. With two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning of the Isotopes' game against the El Paso Chihuahuas, Albuquerque shortstop Ryan Ritter walked. Catcher Austin Nola trotted home with the go-ahead run—and then, mayhem.
While Chihuahuas catcher Luis Campusano threw the ball back to pitcher Omar Cruz, Isotopes second baseman Aaron Schunk alertly tore home. His steal forced an errant throw to third, and left fielder Jordan Beck tacked on run to make it 5–2 Albuquerque.
The Isotopes went on to a 7–2 victory, fueled by one of the strangest baseball sequences of the year anywhere. It created statistical oddities like this one: Cruz, the losing pitcher, has an 0.00 ERA for the season because he techinically didn't allow any earned runs.
Albuquerque improved to 7-9 on the season with the victory, and if the team goes on to Pacific Coast League glory, they can pinpoint this odd play as the beginning of something magical.
Liverpool now look a million miles off the likes of Arsenal, sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League.
Only last season, Arne Slot’s runaway Reds finished ten points clear of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, having won a mammoth 25 clashes along the way to lifting the title.
Now, with an abysmal six defeats next to their name from 12 Premier League clashes, and 20 goals already leaked, the out-of-sorts giants are already 11 points behind the North Londoners, who swept Tottenham Hotspur aside 4-1, on the same weekend Liverpool crashed out to a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Thankfully, despite Liverpool suffering their worst start to a season since 2014, and Gary Neville chipping in by labelling the current state of affairs as “unacceptable”, the January transfer window opens soon, which could see the Reds spend wildly again to try and get their atrocious campaign back on track.
Liverpool preparing to spend big again
Just one look at the list above gives you a flavour as to how much Liverpool splashed out in the summer, with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike all joining the building for an eye-watering combined total of £294m.
While these deals haven’t exactly gone to plan so far, that doesn’t mean more lavish spending won’t do the trick in an attempt to turn out Liverpool’s depressing fortunes, with sources from Spain now alleging that Slot and Co could be willing to drop an earth-shuddering £177m on the services of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Liverpool have also been tipped to move for the likes of Juventus attacker Kenan Yildiz and Premier League man of the moment Antoine Semenyo to freshen up their attacking ranks, but a new emerging report from Spain also suggests that their central midfield spots might well be given a major facelift, if they can pick up Paris St Germain ace Joao Neves.
Indeed, the report states that the faltering titans have an ‘intense interest’ in adding Neves to their squad after a breakout season in Ligue 1, with a battle for his services perhaps defining a busy January window to come.
It’s further revealed that Liverpool are preparing an offer close to £140m in an effort to persuade Luis Enrique’s men to part ways.
How Neves is a big upgrade on Mac Allister
Liverpool could win themselves a major upgrade on a declining Alexis Mac Allister if the ex-Benfica midfielder does choose to leave the comforts of France behind for a shot in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, the Argentine has looked seriously off the pace this season during Liverpool’s well-publicised struggles.
It’s been a significant fall from grace for the World Cup winner, who managed to bag five goals and collect five assists last season in league action to help Slot pick up the Premier League title in a crazy first campaign at the helm.
Now, however, the waning 26-year-old has an unconvincing zero goals and two assists from 11 league outings this season, leading to one analyst labelling him as a “huge disappointment”, with his once-feared ability to dictate play now nowhere to be found.
Mac Allister vs Neves in 25/26
Stat (* = per 90 mins)
Mac Allister
Neves
Games played
11
7
Goals scored
0
5
Assists
2
0
Shots*
1.3
1.9
Touches*
47.2
67.6
Accurate passes*
31.5 (86%)
55.3 (94%)
Ball recoveries*
2.9
3.1
Total duels won*
2.5 (44%)
2.9 (57%)
Stats by Sofascore
While the former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder continues to decline, Neves has followed up his outrageous tally of three goals and eight assists from last season with five goals already this campaign, as the 21-year-old continues to live up to his billing as being “one of the best midfielders in the world” by European football content creator, Alex Brice.
On top of being a clinical and classy finisher of chances, Neves also blows his competition out of the water in terms of his pass accuracy with an unerring 94% average in tact, alongside also offering up more ball recoveries at 3.1 per Ligue 1 game, which should stand him in good stead to be an energetic partner to Ryan Gravenberch.
A major plus to his game, though, is his ability to fire home chances – as seen in his unbelievable hat-trick earlier this season – with Mac Allister also well-known to fire home a memorable strike or two during his Liverpool peak.
But, it’s his overall package that makes him such a “complete” talent, as he has been labelled by his ex-trainer in Luis Castro, who even said that number 87 can play in “any championship in the world” and “shine”, with Liverpool having to put their money where their mouth is to prove him right.
Of course, between now and January coming into view, Mac Allister might well pick up form again, as could his entire team, as they potentially climb far beyond their current mid-table slump.
But, with Curtis Jones the only real other figure Slot can fall back on in the defensive midfield ranks – away from the South American and Gravenberch – dropping £140m on Neves could be a fantastic, if costly, investment to make, as the big spenders hope the Portuguese superstar can enter the starting XI and push his new team back into the top positions in the tough division.
Semenyo alternative: Liverpool preparing £177m bid to sign their new Diaz
Liverpool are gearing up to open their purse once again this winter.
Inter Miami's final stance on potentially bringing in Neymar during the winter transfer window has been revealed. His return to Santos, which was intended as a short-term comeback in the comfort of his home city, has been overshadowed by familiar injury setbacks. After a difficult spell at Al-Hilal that included a torn ACL and a mutual contract termination, he now finds himself battling pain once more while Santos fight for survival in the Brazilian Serie A.
A reunion that will not happen
The talk around Inter Miami’s winter business intensified after Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba both announced they will retire at the end of the 2025 season. This raised legitimate questions about how the club would navigate its future under MLS’s Designated Player rules, and whether a marquee signing such as Neymar would be part of their next phase. Supporters imagined a fairy tale scenario with former Barcelona team-mates Messi, Suarez and Neymar dazzling audiences together one last time, this time in pink. However, according to Miami’s leadership has made it unequivocally clear that sentiment will not drive their recruitment policy. While acknowledging the marketing whirlwind Neymar’s arrival would generate, sporting director Chris Henderson and manager Javier Mascherano have chosen to make a pragmatic sporting decision. Defensive reinforcements and a top-tier striker for 2026 have emerged as their primary targets, with interest in Neymar dropped.
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Neymar’s painful battle for fitness continues
Neymar’s second spell at Santos has unfolded very differently from the celebratory homecoming many expected. What began as a six-month plan, allowing him to rebuild confidence and reconnect with his roots, may yet stretch to 18 months if Santos manage to secure safety in the final rounds of the Brasileirao, but concerns over his physical condition remain. Manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda confirmed that Neymar had withdrawn from Santos' 1-1 draw with Internacional due to knee discomfort. Neymar summoned enough strength to play through pain in the following match, helping Santos secure a vital 3-0 win over Sport. That win lifted the club above the relegation line on goal difference, but the meniscus injury might sideline him again for a considerable time. Neymar’s current contract expires at the end of December, leaving him technically free to explore other options. However, according to , the forward appears prepared to remain in Brazil until the 2026 World Cup, provided his body allows him to contribute.
Neymar's World Cup dream is fading fast
For Neymar, everything now revolves around one goal, to ensure he is fit enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad next summer. But there are no guarantees for the Selecao's all-time record goalscorer. Asked specifically about Neymar’s fitness and the form of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, Ancelotti issued a blunt and demanding standard.
"He has to be 100%," Ancelotti told . "There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%. It's not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinícius. If Vinícius is at 90%, I'll call up another player who is at 100%, because it's a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front. Up front, we have really many good players."
The Italian coach went on to praise Neymar’s artistry but underlined the central issue holding him back.
"I think he's a great talent," Ancelotti said. "He's had the bad luck of having injuries. He couldn't be in good physical condition because of the injuries he's had."
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Limited time and shrinking opportunities
With the domestic season in Brazil wrapping up in December, competitive fixtures will be scarce before the March international break. The uncertainty has prompted discussions about alternative pathways, including a short-term move back to Europe. Unlike Brazil, European leagues will be mid-season in early 2026, offering Neymar the rhythm and sharpness he desperately needs. However, the big question remains whether he will find any taker for his services.
A New York Yankees fan interfered with an outfielder in foul territory along the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium, preventing the player from securing the out. Such an incident, involving Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, infamously occurred during Game 4 of the Dodgers' World Series triumph over the Yankees in October of 2024.
Well, it happened again on Tuesday night.
Except this time, a Yankees fan was interfering with one of their own in two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge. With the Yankees leading 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and the count 1-and-1, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon's changeup was lofted to right field by Cleveland Guardians center fielder Angel Martinez. Judge tracked the ball to foul territory in right and leapt into the stands to attempt to catch the foul pop, but was bumped by a fan. The Yankees captain then bobbled the ball.
New York immediately challenged the call and the umpires replay reviewed the play. The crew later ruled fan interference, awarding the Yankees the final out of the inning. Judge, to his credit, handled the situation about as well as anyone could, given the circumstances. He showed little emotion, picked the ball up and flipped it to the crowd before jogging back to his position in right field.
It's hard to see the play and not think back to the notorious sequence involving Betts. In the bottom of the first inning of the Yankees' eventual 11-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series, Betts was attempting to make a play on a foul ball by Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres when two fans interfered with him. One grabbed Betts's right hand while the other held his glove and pried the ball out. Torres was ultimately called out due to fan interference.
The fans were ejected and later banned indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices and facilities.