MLB says Astros doing surveillance, not spying in dugouts

CLEVELAND >> The Houston Astros didn’t cheat. They didn’t want to get cheated.

That’s their story, and Major League Baseball agrees.

Following an investigation into two incidents this postseason, MLB said that the defending World Series champions were conducting surveillance — not spying — when a credentialed Astros employee was pointing his cellphone into the opposing dugouts during playoff games in Cleveland and Boston.

The Indians filed a complaint following Game 3 of the AL Division Series after the employee was observed Wednesday’s Game 4 of the ALCS was not completed in time for this edition. For updated info, go to aiming his phone into their dugout and taking pictures or video. A few days later, the same man was ejected from an area in Fenway Park during Game 1 of the ALCS.

According to a person familiar with the situation, the Red Sox had been warned ahead of the series about the Astros employee, who was near Cleveland’s dugout for several innings on Oct. 8 before he was removed by security. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, MLB issued a two-paragraph statement saying its department of investigations did a thorough probe and determined “that an Astros employee was monitoring the field to ensure that the opposing club was not violating any rules.” MLB has instructed all clubs still in the playoffs “to refrain from these types of efforts.”

MLB went on to say it considers “the matter closed.”

But while the Astros feel absolved of any wrongdoing, the incidents taking place during baseball’s greatest month have raised questions about sign-stealing and ethics in the age of high-speed, high-definition cameras.

Speaking in Boston’s dugout before Game 4 in Houston, Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said there are more layers to unravel.

“I do not think that person in the camera well was stealing signs, and so I understand that it was resolved,” Dombrowski said.

Following MLB’s ruling, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said the team has been proactive in policing other ballparks for “suspicious activity” and the team has uncovered some “multiple” times. Luhnow said the club will abide by MLB’s guidelines and that any prior monitoring was done as protection.

“We were playing defense, we were not playing offense,” Luhnow said before Game 4.

Sale not ready to pitch for Red Sox in Game 5

HOUSTON >> Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale was still feeling weak Wednesday and won’t start Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

Sale threw in the outfield for 10-15 minutes before Game 4, but manager Alex Cora said he didn’t throw a bullpen session as planned.

Cora said the lanky lefty ace was still feeling weak and had lost some weight because of a stomach illness that forced him to spend a night in a hospital.