Houston Astros' Jose Altuve was ejected for only the second time in his illustrious career during a roller-coaster of a game against the New York Mets. This dramatic contest, which stretched into 11 innings, culminated in a 10-5 victory for the Astros, who have struggled to find consistency earlier in the season but have rebounded spectacularly to cross the .500 mark.
A Controversial Call
The flashpoint occurred in the seventh inning at Citi Field when Altuve appeared to foul a ball off his left foot. However, the umpires ruled it an inning-ending groundout. Clearly frustrated, Altuve tossed his bat and helmet, leading to an ejection, a rarity for the usually composed infielder. "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," Altuve later explained.
James Jean, the umpire behind the plate, was officiating just his first game after making his major league debut days earlier. Crew chief Alan Porter signaled the out call, which was not subject to video replay review. Astros' bench coach Joe Espada echoed Altuve's sentiments: "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."
Turning the Tide
Despite this moment of high drama, the Astros proved resilient. Entering extra innings with the game tied, Jake Meyers came through in the clutch with a go-ahead single off Matt Festa in the 11th inning. Then, Joey Loperfido and Trey Cabbage extended the lead with a two-run single and a two-run double, respectively, sealing the victory.
The Astros, who started the season with a dismal 7-19 record and were 12-24 before May 9, now find themselves boasting a positive record of 42-41. The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. "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," said Meyers.
The team finished June with a stellar 17-8 record, significantly turning their season around. This turn of events is not surprising to their bench coach either. "I never lost faith in this group. I know that we were down, but were not out, and I'm not surprised that we are where we are," Espada affirmed, reflecting the confidence and determination that has been a hallmark of the Astros’ resurgence.
Altuve's Stellar Stats
Despite the ejection, Altuve's performance this season remains impressive. He currently boasts a .304 batting average, along with 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. His presence is pivotal for the Astros as they aim to capitalize on their mid-season momentum.
As the Astros look ahead, their dramatic win and Altuve’s unfortunate ejection might serve as a catalyst, further uniting a team that has already demonstrated an impressive ability to bounce back. With more than half of the season still to play out, the Astros' journey promises to be one to watch closely.