See Also hardball BOSTON Houston Astros reliever Hctor Neris intentionally balked to advance a runner to third on Saturday, then had an exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Garrett Mitchell Jersey Hudson that led to a dustup between the teams. Neris surrendered Trevor Storys two-out RBI double in the seventh inning of Houstons 7-3 lo s. The right-hander then balked, moving Story to third, before Carlos Narvez bounced to shortstop for the final out. As Neris made his way off the mound, he had words with Hudson and yelled toward the Red Sox dugout, causing both teams, including bullpens, to come on the field before order was quickly restored. Asked if he felt the Red Sox were stealing signs, Neris responded: Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no. Explore More But I still wanted to concentrate, the 36-year-old right-hander continued. In (that) situation, I want to do what Im feeling in the moment. That is the reason why I moved him to third. Neris declined to specify what he said to Hudson that caused the benches to empty. Nothing. Its part of the game, he said with a grin. Something funny. People come into (the clubhouse) maybe to hear what happened, but nothing serious. Astros manager Joe Espada, speaking to the media before Neris, had no insight into what caused the confrontation. Umpire Gerry Davis and Christian Walker hold back Houston reliever Hctor Neris #50 after he thought the Boston Red Sox were stealing signs during the seventh inning of the Astros 7-3 road lo s to the Red Sox on Aug. 2, 2025. Getty Images Im actually going to ask Neris, he said. I really dont know what words were exchanged to be honest with you. Asked what caused the benches to clear and if sign-stealing was the i sue, Red Sox manager Alex Cora directed the questions to Neris. Pitching calls in the major leagues are relayed electronically through PitchCom, but a baserunner on second can determine what pitch is coming by looking for a pitchers grip. A runner on second also can relay where a catcher is setting up to help a batter with pitch location. Benches emptied as Houston reliever Hctor Neris is led away as he yells at Boston players, accusing the team for stealing signs during the seventh inning of the Astros lo s to the Red Sox. Getty Images The Astros were disciplinedby Major League Baseball after it found the team used electronics to steal signs during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. Cora was the bench coach for Houston in 2017. In the wake of the sign-stealing scandal, he departed Boston in January 2020in what was called a mutual decision. After serving a one-season suspensionhanded down by MLB, he was rehired as Red Sox manager in November 2020. Pedro Severino Jersey