In a dramatic moment during Saturday’s game, Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris intentionally balked to advance a runner from second to third, then had a heated exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson.
This incident occurred in the seventh inning of the Astros’ 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox, leading to a brief confrontation between the teams.
The Balk and the Fallout
Neris had just allowed Trevor Story’s two-out RBI double in the seventh when he made the unusual move of intentionally balking. The balk moved Story to third base, putting the runner in scoring position. Carlos Narváez then grounded out to shortstop, ending the inning.
However, as Neris walked off the mound, he exchanged words with Hudson and shouted toward the Red Sox dugout. This caused both teams, including the bullpens, to rush onto the field. Fortunately, tensions quickly settled, and the teams returned to their dugouts.
Neris’ Response to the Incident
When asked about the confrontation and whether he felt the Red Sox were stealing signs, Neris was cryptic. “Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no,” he said, though he added that his decision to balk was based on what he was feeling at that moment. “In that situation, I want to do what I’m feeling in the moment. That is the reason why I moved him to third.”
Neris, 36, kept his explanation vague when asked what was said during the exchange with Hudson. “Nothing. It’s part of the game,” he remarked with a grin. “Something funny. People come into (the clubhouse) maybe to hear what happened, but nothing serious.”
Manager Reactions and the Sign-Stealing Question
Astros manager Joe Espada, who spoke to the media before Neris, admitted he didn’t know what words were exchanged between Neris and Hudson. “I’m actually going to ask Neris,” Espada said. “I really don’t know what words were exchanged to be honest with you.”
On the Red Sox side, manager Alex Cora, when asked about the benches clearing and if sign-stealing played a role, directed the questions to Neris.
Cora, who was the bench coach for the Astros during their 2017 sign-stealing scandal, knows firsthand how important sign-stealing and pitch communication can be in the game. After serving a one-season suspension due to the scandal, Cora returned as Red Sox manager in 2020.
The Sign-Stealing Context
While major league pitching calls are now relayed electronically through PitchCom, a baserunner on second base can still gain insight into pitch selection by observing the pitcher’s grip and the catcher’s positioning. This, in turn, can be relayed to the batter, potentially giving them an advantage.
The Astros were embroiled in a major sign-stealing controversy during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in 2018. MLB disciplined the team for using electronics to steal signs, a scandal that remains a significant talking point in the baseball world.
The incident between Neris and the Red Sox added an unexpected layer of drama to what was already a challenging game for the Astros. While the tensions were quickly diffused, the shadow of the sign-stealing scandal and the uncertainty around Neris’ comments continued to linger over the exchange.
