Year of the Balk? Hough Called for 9

Twenty balks were called during 13 exhibition games Monday, including nine on Charlie Hough of the Texas Rangers, as umpires apparently began a crackdown on pitchers.

Twelve balks were called in the game between Texas and the Toronto Blue Jays. Seven balks were called on Hough in the second inning, when Toronto scored three runs on one hit.

The major league record for balks in a game is seven for both teams, and six for one team, set by the Milwaukee Braves against the Chicago Cubs on May 4, 1963. Five of the balks were by the Braves’ Bob Shaw.

Hough set an American League record last season with nine balks.

“The pitchers are not stopping with their hands or their feet,” said umpire Rich Garcia, who worked the Rangers’ game. “We’re in the process of explaining it to everyone.”