A spectator waving a Palestinian flag ran onto the field at Yankee Stadium during the seventh inning of the Subway Series opener on Friday night, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Security guards detained the intruder as fans threw drinks and chanted “USA.”
The disruption unfolded on Friday, September 11, 2026, in the Bronx, as the New York Yankees hosted the New York Mets for the opening game of the Subway Series. At 9:11 p.m. ET, an individual carrying a Palestinian flag ran onto the field from the left-field seats and sprinted toward center field. The individual evaded several police officers and stadium security personnel for a brief moment before being tackled and detained in the outfield grass, according to local reporting.
Subway Series Disruption and Crowd Reaction at Yankee Stadium
The field invasion occurred during a high-stakes moment in the top of the seventh inning. The Mets had loaded the bases with leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor at the plate in a 3-2 count with two outs while the Yankees held a 5-2 lead, as detailed by the publication’s coverage. After security escorted the protester beyond the center-field wall, spectators seated above the Mets bullpen showered the area with beer cans and other drinks while booing him out of the venue, prompting the crowd to erupt into unison chants of USA
and USA! USA!
according to on-the-ground reporting from the New York Post.
Security personnel struggled briefly as the protester kicked at guards while being carried off the playing surface. Social media videos and news reports noted that the timing of the intrusion at 9:11 p.m. added a jarring layer of tension to an evening already steeped in solemn remembrance.
Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Before First Pitch
Before the game began, Yankee Stadium hosted extensive ceremonies to mark a quarter-century since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The pregame program featured a seven-minute video on the outfield scoreboard where members of the 2001 Yankees team reflected on the aftermath of the tragedy. Former stars including Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, Mariano Rivera, and former manager Joe Torre walked onto the field to prolonged applause.
Brielle Saracini and her husband, Sean McGuire—both of whom were 10 years old when their fathers were killed in the 2001 attacks—threw out the ceremonial first pitches. The two had previously met at Camp Better Days, an organization established to support children who lost parents in the tragedy. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed God Bless the USA,
drawing roaring applause and initial patriotic chants from the stands before the game even commenced.
Mets interim manager Andy Green also shared his perspective on the significance of the crosstown matchup falling on the anniversary date. It’s gonna be special,
Green told reporters before the game, as noted in pre-game interviews. I think obviously it takes us back 25 years and all of the emotions and uncertainty we felt that day. The pain we felt for people who lost loved ones. Major League Baseball got this one right by putting these two teams against each other on this day.
Game Outcome and Broader Sports Context
Once play resumed following the seventh-inning security delay, left-handed reliever Leadrick needed just one pitch to retire Francisco Lindor on a line drive, escaping the bases-loaded jam. The Yankees maintained their advantage and ultimately defeated the Mets 6-4 in the opening fixture of the series, bolstering their standing as the Subway Series continued.
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