Astros star Jose Altuve apparently went too far on Tuesday night when he was ejected for removing his cleats and socks during an argument with an umpire.
The mayhem began in the top of the ninth inning as the Astros were seeking their 82nd win against the San Diego Padres. Umpire Brennan Miller called the ball fair, but it ended up being a grounder, and the Astros were tied at the half.
In an attempt to convince a disbelieving Miller that the ball had been fouled with his foot, Altuve took off his cleats and socks and pointed to the exact spot where he claimed the ball had hit him. Apparently not one to dwell on feet, Miller responded by ejecting the Astros second baseman.
But Miller was proven wrong when slow-motion video showed the ball struck Altuve's leg and, had it been ruled a foul ball, Altuve would not have been called out.
“It was a foul ball,” Altuve said. said “It was obvious,” he told reporters after the game. “I just… [Robert] “Suarez. I know he's a great player, but I wanted to keep fighting him.”
“It was a foul ball,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “You have to see the moment it hits your foot, the trajectory of the ball, how the ball moves. I don't get it. This is the second time this year. I have a lot of respect for the umpires. They work so hard. There are four umpires. For me, you have to see it. They missed that play.”
But the Astros pulled out the win, with outfielder Kyle Tucker scoring a run in the 10th inning to seal the win, 4-3.
