Tuesday’s American League Wild Card Game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles was an instant classic, but history probably will remember it for one ugly incident instead.
As Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim went to make a catch during the bottom of the seventh inning, a fan threw a beer can that came very close to hitting Kim. The Blue Jays went on to win the game on a walk-off home run, but much of the talk Wednesday centered around the beer-throwing incident … as well as Buck Showalter’s decision not to pitch Zach Britton.
The Toronto Police posted a close-up photo on Twitter of the man believed to be the beer-can thrower and asked the public for help identifying him.
And apparently it worked, because he has been identified as journalist Ken Pagan, according to TSN correspondent Rick Westhead.
Pagan, however, might be refuting the allegations.
“I was drinking out of a cup,” Pagan told Postmedia, per the Toronto Sun. “I’d love to tell you what happened and my story … but I can’t say anything.”
Photos do seem to show Pagan drinking from a cup — not a can — while watching the game just before the incident happened. However, Pagan is missing from photos taken just after the beer was thrown.
Thumbnail photo via Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports Images
