In a dramatic turn of events at Citi Field, the Houston Astros' star second baseman Jose Altuve was ejected for only the second time in his illustrious major league career. Altuve's frustration boiled over in the seventh inning when a controversial groundout call ended the inning, leaving him visibly agitated and leading to his dismissal.
Controversial Call Leads to Ejection
As Altuve faced the New York Mets' pitching, he appeared to foul a ball off his left foot. However, the umpires ruled it an inning-ending groundout, much to the dismay of Altuve and the Astros' bench. Expressing his frustration, Altuve tossed his bat and helmet, a move that resulted in his ejection by umpire James Jean, who was behind the plate for the first time after recently making his major league debut.
Altuve was clearly bewildered by the call. "They didn't see it. I understand the guy behind the plate didn't see it because the catcher's there, but you have another three guys -- first, second and third. I felt like it was kind of obvious. That's why I was so mad," said Altuve after the game.
Impact on the Game
Despite the ejection, the Astros turned the game around, clinching a 10-5 victory over the Mets in an 11-inning thriller. The win lifted Houston's record to 42-41, pushing them above the .500 mark for the first time this season – a significant milestone given their rocky start.
Houston had opened the season with a dismal 7-19 record and found themselves at 12-24 before May 9. However, a strong performance in June, where they recorded a 17-8 record, has kept their playoff hopes alive. "It was a goal to get to .500 before All-Star break. It kind of shows that we've been grinding through the season, ups and downs," noted outfielder Jake Meyers.
Key Moments in Extra Innings
The game came to life in the 11th inning. Jake Meyers emerged as a hero with a go-ahead single off Mets pitcher Matt Festa. This was followed by a two-run single from Joey Loperfido and a two-run double by Trey Cabbage, securing a commanding lead for the Astros.
Astros bench coach Joe Espada praised the resilience of the team. "I never lost faith in this group. I know that we were down, but not out, and I'm not surprised that we are where we are," he said.
Looking at Altuve's Career
Altuve’s track record of maintaining composure makes his ejection noteworthy. The only other ejection in his career occurred on August 6, 2016, during a game against the Texas Rangers. Upholding an impressive career, Altuve currently boasts a .304 batting average, with 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases this season.
Espada, reflecting on the controversial call, added, "The ball kind of took a different direction once it hit the ground, to Vientos. And [if] someone was going to get out of the box, second and third, and beat a ball out at first base, it's Jose Altuve. So if he's arguing, that ball hit him. And it looked like the ball hit him to me."
Moving Forward
With the Astros appearing to find their form at a crucial point in the season, they will look to build on this momentum. While Altuve's ejection was a point of contention, the team's supporters can take solace in their spirited comeback and the promising signs of their recent performances.
As they forge ahead, maintaining their trajectory will be key in the highly competitive standings. The Astros have demonstrated resilience and tenacity – qualities that will serve them well as they chase postseason aspirations.