The Kansas City Royals hit Jacob deGrom hard in the fifth inning on Wednesday night, tagging him for four runs in Game 2 of the World Series.

"I just think I didn't make a pitch when I needed to in the fifth inning," deGrom said.

Fans and even some former Major League players saw something different, suggesting that the right-hander was tipping his pitches as the Royals were on top of nearly every pitch he threw in the inning.

"I can't figure it out yet, but they have something on deGrom out of the stretch," ESPN quoted a former Mets player as communicating during the game. "They better figure it out or they can't win this series."

Pitching coach Dan Warthen disagreed.

"They fight off the good pitches and they're able to capitalize on the bad pitches," he said of the Royals batters. "We get in a little trouble we get the game hurried up and sped up for us. I think that has a little bit to do with youth both on the mound and behind the plate. Try to slow them both down. [Catcher] Travis [d'Arnaud] will look at me for signs and sometimes we're just a little slow getting there."