Francona: Fan meant no harm to Sheffield

Francona lauded the work of Fenway Park security, particularly 23-year-old Steven Chin, the visiting bullpen attendant who jumped into the stands to separate the fan, Christopher House of Dorcester, and Sheffield, who later said House made contact with him while he was attempting to field a ball in the eighth inning.

"He got there in a hurry, man, and that's good," Francona said of Chin. "That's why they're there. I don't think anything was malicious but I just thought the fan was wrong. I'm not sure what he was doing."

Francona added, "It looked like [House] kind of swiped it. And then you get a different version. I mean, I don't know what he was thinking. We're fortunate that security did a great job and Sheff didn't lose it because it looked like he was close, and then it ends up being something really bad."

Sox sources indicated House admitted to having "collided" with Sheffield while attempting to swipe for the ball that was rolling around the 3-foot-high right-field wall.

House was questioned after the game by the team and Boston police, while Major League Baseball is also conducting an investigation. After retrieving the ball, which was hit by Jason Varitek and scored the final two runs in the Sox' 8-5 win, Sheffield went back at House, but restrained himself.

House, who was ejected from the game but not arrested, could still face charges.

Sheffield said he was told not to comment further on the incident, while Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said, "It's in the hands of the commissioner."

The matter has been referred to Bob Watson, MLB's chief disciplinarian, who is reviewing tapes, according to MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney.

The team would neither confirm nor deny that House, a former Curry College assistant football coach, was a season ticket-holder, but fans who sit in that area in right field have identified him as one. House was not seen at last night's opener of a three-game series against the Devil Rays, and efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.