In a dramatic twist during the Houston Astros’ 10-inning win over the San Diego Padres, umpires ejected second baseman José Altuve after he intensely argued an on-field call. The incident occurred in the ninth inning of a tie game, with the potential go-ahead run on second base. Altuve hit a ground ball to Padres’ third baseman Manny Machado, which ended the inning. However, Altuve claimed the ball had fouled off his foot and argued for a foul call. The umpires ruled the ball fair, sparking the heated debate that led to his ejection. This ejection significantly impacted the game, removing a key player from the Astros’ lineup during a crucial moment.
Altuve’s Protest and Ejection
Astros manager Joe Espada joined Altuve in contesting the call, along with bench coach Omar López. In a highly unusual move, Altuve removed his shoe and sock to show home plate umpire Brennan Miller his bare foot, presumably to prove the ball had struck it. Despite the display, Miller ejected Altuve from the game. Afterward, Altuve expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s the ninth inning, winning run on second base, I’m battling against a good pitcher, Suarez… So I get a foul ball because it hit my foot, and they just took it away from me.”
This incident marks Altuve’s second ejection of the season, with the first coming on June 30 in a similar scenario against the New York Mets. In that game, Altuve was also involved in a controversial call, where he argued for a foul ball that was ruled fair. Unfortunately for the Astros, foul balls like this are not reviewable, leaving them no option to challenge the call.
Manager Espada’s Frustration
Espada was also ejected during the heated exchange. After the game, he expressed disbelief at the umpires’ decision. “It’s a foul ball. You have to see the ball once it hits the foot, the flight of the ball, what the ball does after. I don’t get it. That’s twice this year. I have a lot of respect for the umpires, but there’s four of them out there, and they missed that play.”
Despite the ejections, the Astros managed to secure the win. Altuve’s passion and determination to fight for his team’s chances were evident throughout the game, as Espada noted: “Jose Altuve’s a gamer, he wants to win. He’s trying to prove a point, and I respect that.”
Pitch-Timer Violation Controversy
The game also featured another controversy involving Padres closer Josh Hader in the eighth inning. With Fernando Tatis Jr. on third base, Hader was called for a pitch-timer violation before delivering his first pitch. However, the Astros challenged the call, and after thoroughly reviewing the rules, consulting with all four umpires, and examining the game footage, they overturned the violation. The delay led to a momentum shift as Hader’s first pitch, a slider, bounced, allowing the tying run to score.
Hader reflected on the situation afterward, saying, “I’m coming out of the bullpen, getting ready to face a guy, and then I’ve got to sit for 10 minutes… It definitely changed the momentum a little bit.”
Altuve’s ejection and the pitch-timer controversy added drama to an intense matchup between the Astros and Padres. Ultimately, the Astros’ resilience paid off with a thrilling and crucial win, though the questionable umpiring decisions had a lasting impact on the game.