After a masterful start from David Price, the Boston Red Sox dispatched the reigning World Series Champion Houston Astros to advance to the 2018 World Series. The Red Sox advance for the first time since the 2013 season, in which they won the title. The series seemed to be over unceremoniously, from looking at the box scores, with Boston only needing five games to advance. However, the box score fails to show all of the controversies that plagued this series.

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Starting right out of the gate in Game 1, the Astros came under fire for trying to cheat and steal signs from the Red Sox. A man was seen near the Red Sox dugout taking pictures and appeared to be texting frequently, according to a Metro US report. The report also stated the man was removed from the game in the third inning and did not have any media credentials, leading to further speculation about the motives behind the photos. According to a Forbes report, an individual with knowledge of the situation stated that the individual was in fact attempting to determine if the Red Sox were cheating. Of note to this scandal, last September, a trainer for the Red Sox used an Apple Watch to steal signs in the playoffs.

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In regards to the fallout from this, the MLB released an official statement that said:

“A thorough investigation concluded that an Astros employee was monitoring the field to ensure that the opposing Club was not violating any rules. All Clubs remaining in the playoffs have been notified to refrain from these types of efforts and to direct complaints about any in-stadium rules violations to MLB staff for investigation and resolution. We consider the matter closed.”

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Fast forward to Game 4 at Minute Maid Park, a controversial fan interference call drastically changed the course of the game. In the bottom of the first inning, George Springer was on first base, with Jose Altuve at the plate. Altuve took a swing at a pitch on the outer half of the plate from Rick Porcello, crushing the ball to deep right field. Near the home run wall, on a ball that looked destined to go over, Mookie Betts leaped for the grab and appeared to come down with the catch. The ball kicked off his glove, and he got up to throw the ball back into the infield, stopping Altuve at second and Springer at third.

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Then, the umpire in the outfield ruled fan interference on the catch. Replay showed that a fan in the front row reached over and appeared to close Betts’ glove causing him to miss the catch. The official rule allows the umpires to set the bases as to how they would have been had the play gone down interference free, so Altuve was ruled out and Springer was sent back to first base. The Astros were turned away scoreless in a game that they ultimately lost by two runs, possibly the two runs that could’ve scored without the fan interference if Betts missed the catch.

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The call was reviewed, but a lack of a good angle, mainly from a security guard blocking a camera view, caused the play to stand. The game ultimately went to the Red Sox, and the next day so did the series. Whether or not the series would have been changed with different outcomes will forever be unknown, but nothing will change the fact that the Red Sox will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series starting on Tuesday.