Were The Red Sox Cheating? A Local TV Station Almost Stirred Trouble

BOSTON — The Red Sox and Astros have a, ahem, spotty recent history when it comes to gaining what some might call competitive advantages — and others might call cheating.

So when a light was shining out of the centerfield garage during the two teams' ALCS Game 5 Monday evening at Fenway Park, suspicions were aroused.

But there was nothing mischievous about the mysterious glow. There wasn't even really anything interesting at all behind it.

Boston 25 was filming a segment in the Bleacher Bar, a popular bar nestled inside the exoskeleton of Fenway that has a small eating area where fans can watch the game from a unique centerfield perspective. The reporter explained what was happening on air.

Before anyone knew what it was, the light — which was just the Boston 25 camera — caused some discussion. It was shining when the Red Sox were up to bat in the fifth inning, but went away after manager Alex Cora talked to the umpires about it. Boston then had its most successful offensive inning of the game to that point — not saying much, but still. Hmmm.

Cora, of course, was banned from baseball for a year for his involvement in Houston's cheating scandal in 2017 and 2018. He wasn't disciplined for Boston's 2018 scandal.

Major League Baseball said both teams were guilty of different sign-stealing operations, though Houston's was found to be much worse.