The Arizona Diamondbacks' manager Torey Lovullo issued a public apology to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday after allegations of sign stealing during their series in Phoenix. The incident occurred during the fifth inning of Monday’s 7-0 Cubs win, when Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly and his team alleged that Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry was relaying pitch signs to hitters.
In a separate development, Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong criticized the umpiring crew following a missed balk call in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. Crow-Armstrong, standing on third base, took a large lead before returning to the base, prompting Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez to alter his delivery. The umpires did not call the balk, which Crow-Armstrong later described as a missed opportunity to score.
Umpire Response to Balk Call
The umpiring crew acknowledged their error after reviewing video footage postgame. Crew chief Alfonso Márquez stated, "We just didn’t see it," adding that the video review suggested Rodriguez had stepped off the rubber. The Cubs did not score in the inning and lost the game.
Sign-Stealing Allegations and Apology
During Monday’s game, Diamondbacks players and staff reportedly believed Berry was picking up signs from Kelly’s delivery and relaying them to Cubs hitters. Kelly, speaking after the game, stated he did not believe sign stealing from a coach was acceptable. "Stealing signs is as old as baseball," Kelly said, "but I think it’s bush league coming from a coach."
Lovullo later issued an apology to the Cubs organization, acknowledging the team’s concerns. "We understand their perspective," Lovullo said. "We want to make sure we’re playing the game the right way, and we apologize if we gave them any impression otherwise."
Cubs’ Performance and Standings
Despite the controversies, the Cubs maintained their position atop the NL Wild Card standings, though they remained six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the divisional race. Crow-Armstrong, a leading MVP candidate, went 1-for-12 during the series in Arizona, with his only hit being a leadoff double in Wednesday’s game.
Baseball rules permit sign stealing from runners on base or through decoding physical cues, but using video technology or coaches to relay signs in real time is prohibited. The Diamondbacks’ series in Phoenix saw tensions escalate after the Cubs’ win on Monday, with both teams exchanging views on the legitimacy of the sign-stealing allegations.