Red Sox restrict 2 fans for incident

House, in a statement issued through his lawyer, David T. Norton, said last night that he had ''no intention" of striking Sheffield and that he does not believe he made contact with the outfielder.

''It is ridiculous for anyone to even suggest that I punched him or even attempted to," House said, describing himself as a 12-year season ticket holder.

''I was shocked and disappointed by his (Sheffield's) reaction, and I thank Red Sox security and Boston Police for quickly coming to my assistance."

The other fan, identified by two Red Sox sources as Matthew Donovan of Dorchester, will not be allowed to buy tickets for the rest of this season because he doused Sheffield with beer, according to the team.

Donovan, previously identified only by his clothing that night (a GAP sweatshirt), is not a season ticket-holder.

The penalties, announced by the Red Sox, do not ban the men from Fenway Park this year. Neither House nor Donovan could be reached for comment yesterday.

Sheffield is expected to meet today at an undisclosed location with Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president of on-field operations. A decision -- a suspension, a fine, both, or nothing -- could come as soon as today, though it's likelier to come tomorrow, according to a Major League Baseball official.

Sheffield is "probably looking at a fine," the official said. "He reacted. He's probably got to get something for that. He did show some restraint, and he didn't hop into the stands."

Sheffield said yesterday in New York the Sox' actions against the two fans "just proves I wasn't in the wrong, and that's what this is all about."

"Yeah, you try to represent the game the right way, but then being told you're in the wrong for reacting to something you didn't start, that's kind of disturbing," the Yankee outfielder said. "That just makes me feel like it's a hypocritical society."

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, in a statement issued through a spokesman, said, "We applaud the Red Sox for decisively dealing with this matter."

Sheffield also told the New York Daily News that athletes are in a tough position when it comes to incidents with fans.