Dodgers announcer hints Astros may have cheated: “I don’t want to open an old wound, but…”

The Dodger Stadium was the scene of a night to forget as the Houston Astros beat the Angelenos18-1 in what became the team’s worst home defeat. However, beyond the scoreline, a comment from broadcaster Orel Hershiser revived an old and controversial wound: the sign-stealing scandal

The game between the Dodgers and Astros on Friday seemed destined to be just another loss… until it wasn’t. When the scoreboard already showed a wide lead for the visitors, former pitcher and now broadcaster Orel Hershiser uttered a phrase full of history:

I don’t want to open up an old wound. But in a way, they’re swinging at these breaks like they know what’s coming

Orel Hershiser

This comment came in the third inning, while rookie Ben Casparius was suffering on the mound, after a double by Jake Meyers and a home run by Jose Altuve. Hershiser‘s words were not a direct accusation, but a clear reference to the fact that the shadow of the 2017 scandal was still present.

What happened with the Astros and the sign-stealing scandal?

For many Dodgers fans, the name “Astros” still evokes anger. In 2017, it was revealed that the Houston team used illegal technology to steal signs from opposing pitchers, a scandal that tainted their World Series title that year. The Dodgers were the main victims, losing that series in seven games.

Although today the PitchCom system makes it almost impossible to repeat this type of cheating, and the Astros were the visitors on this occasion, the memory is still alive. It’s not just a matter of sport, but of pride and justice for many Los Angeles fans, which is why for many the Astros vs Dodgers rivalry is one of the most important in modern times.

Recent Astros vs Dodgers statistics

• Astros: Champions in 2017 and 2022
• Dodgers: Champions in 2020 and 2024
• Matches between them since 2017: 21 games
• Current record: Astros 11 – Dodgers 10

This latest victory was not only humiliating for the Dodgers, it also broke the historical tie between the two teams since the scandal. It was also the worst defeat the Dodgers have suffered at Dodger Stadium since it opened.