When searching for examples regarding the evolution of baseball and how sign-stealing has impacted the game, look no further than the 10th inning of the Red Sox game against the Rays Monday.
With Tampa Bay leading by a pair of runs heading into the bottom of the 10th, reliever Collin McHugh intentionally balked automatic baserunner Jonathan Araúz to third before even throwing a pitch.
Why?
Well, McHugh had his reasons.
The move didn't actually pay off like McHugh and the Rays had hoped, with the hitter at the time, Jose Iglesias, lining a single into right field, scoring Araúz.
Tampa Bay ultimately escaped the inning, getting pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki to ground out with two outs and the bases loaded for a 11-10 win over the Red Sox.
The maneuver wasn't the first time we have seen an intentional balk this season, with the Dodgers implementing the strategy a few months ago.