The Houston Astros didn’t just crush the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night—they broke records, bruised egos, and apparently triggered flashbacks in the Dodgers’ broadcast booth.
During the Astros’ 18-1 thrashing of Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium—the worst home loss in franchise history—former Cy Young winner and current broadcaster Orel Hershiser couldn’t help but reference Houston’s 2017 sign-stealing scandal. As Cam Smith roped the Astros’ third straight extra-base hit off rookie Ben Casparius in the third inning, Hershiser quipped on air:
“I don’t want to open an old wound, but in some ways, they’re swinging at these breaking balls like they know what is coming.”
That’s a heavy accusation—subtle or not—for a team that played clean and dominant baseball from the first pitch to the final out. And it’s not the first time Hershiser’s let his bitterness slip. In 2020, he jabbed José Altuve on-air with a not-so-subtle “guessing’s harder than knowing” comment following a strikeout.
This time, though, the scoreboard did the talking—and it spoke in Houston’s favor, loudly and without apology.
Astros Let the Bats Do the Talking
If the Dodgers thought the past was buried, Houston reminded them that the present is alive. Altuve, the frequent target of “cheater” chants, played like a man unfazed by the noise. He finished 3-for-3 with two home runs, five RBIs, and five trips on base. Altuve even crossed the plate four times in a statement performance against a fanbase that won’t let go.
And the sixth inning? It was a clinic. Houston exploded for 10 runs, the most the Dodgers have allowed in a single frame in the 21st century. Victor Caratini hit a grand slam. Altuve followed with a three-run homer. The rout was so complete that even manager Dave Roberts didn’t sugarcoat it.
“That was one you want to flush as soon as possible,” Roberts said after the game. “I don’t think there were many positives from this night.”
Casparius gave up six runs and three homers in just three innings. Roberts added: “It seemed like they were on everything he threw up there.”
That’s not cheating. That’s preparation. That’s execution. That’s a veteran team smelling blood in a high-profile series.
Old Wounds, Same Excuses
For Dodgers fans and Hershiser alike, the 2017 World Series still stings. But what happened on Friday night had nothing to do with trash cans or cameras. It had everything to do with a Houston team taking advantage of an overmatched pitcher and a shaky bullpen.
Instead of dissecting what went wrong, Hershiser deflected with tired innuendo. His comments—implying that the Astros must be cheating if they’re hitting well—reflect an unwillingness to give credit where it’s due. That’s not analysis. That’s deflection.
And it’s not just disrespectful—it’s lazy. The Astros have rebuilt their roster, replaced their leadership, and continued to win. Players like Altuve, Yordan Alvarez (currently in the IL), and Jeremy Peña (also in the IL) have repeatedly shown that they don’t need signals to crush baseballs. Especially not hanging breaking balls from a rookie making just his second big-league start.
Astros Move On, But L.A. Can’t
Friday’s blowout was a glimpse of what Houston still is: dangerous, deep, and deadly when locked in. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ broadcast team appears stuck in the past, using old scandals to explain away new failures.
The Astros didn’t cheat Friday night. They just beat the Dodgers at their park by 17 runs. And for anyone still clinging to conspiracy theories instead of confronting hard truths, one thing is clear—Houston is still in their heads. Rent free.
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