Overview

• Astros reliever Héctor Neris balked Trevor Story to third in the seventh inning at Fenway Park after suspecting Story was relaying pitch signs
• Neris confronted Red Sox third-base coach Kyle Hudson following the out, prompting both benches to clear before play resumed
• NESN analyst Will Middlebrooks mocked Houston’s protest by highlighting its own 2017 electronic sign-stealing scandal
• MLB rules permit runners on second base to observe and relay a pitcher’s grip, placing the onus on pitchers to conceal signals
• Neris later described the balk as “part of the game,” and Boston’s 7-3 victory concluded with no further incidents