Hinch rips Yanks for claims Astros cheated

It’s been a tough time for whistleblowers.

The Astros were cleared of any wrongdoing by Major League Baseball after an investigation because the Yankees were upset with whistling they said was coming from Houston dugout to signal hitters during Game 1 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park.

The league checked with officials who were stationed near the Astros dugout in the first two games of the ALCS in Houston and they did not confirm the Yankees’ suspicions.

The Astros didn’t benefit in Game 1, losing 7-0 against Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka.

The Yankees were mostly tightlipped about the situation before Thursday’s Game 4 in The Bronx, with general manager Brian Cashman declining comment and manager Aaron Boone not adding much more.

“Everyone is trying to gain an edge,’’ Boone said. “It’s part of the game, but I don’t have anything to say about it.”

The same was not true of Houston manager A.J. Hinch, who blasted the accusations, calling them “a joke.”

“Major League Baseball does a lot to ensure the fairness of the game,’’ Hinch said before Game 4. “There’s people everywhere. If you go through the dugouts and the clubhouses and the hallways, there’s like so many people around that are doing this.’’

Hinch insisted his team plays by the rules.

“And then when I get contacted about some questions about whistling, it made me laugh because it’s ridiculous,’’ Hinch said. “And had I known that it would take something like that to set off the Yankees or any other team, we would have practiced it in spring training. … It apparently works, even when it doesn’t happen.”

Certainly, the results weren’t good in Game 1, as Hinch pointed out.

“We got three hits and no runs,’’ Hinch said. “And so nobody heard it. You guys have audio, video, people in places and nothing. And there’s no evidence of anything. … So to the Yankees, there’s … nothing bad going on.’’

Hinch did concede they would continue to look for pitch-tipping tendencies, and the Yankees have been especially careful in defending against that in this series.

“We prepare for a team in a lot of different ways,’’ Boone said. “We try to be buttoned up in every possible way. Scout our guys, scout the opposing teams. So I don’t worry about it honestly.’’