Jose Altuve Ejected in Astros' 11-Inning Triumph Over Mets
Jose Altuve found himself ejected for only the second time in his illustrious career during an intense game that saw the Houston Astros ultimately prevail over the New York Mets with a 10-5 victory in 11 innings at Citi Field.
The incident in question occurred in the seventh inning, when Altuve appeared to foul a ball off his left foot. However, it was ruled an inning-ending groundout, a call that frustrated Altuve to the point of tossing his bat and helmet, resulting in his ejection. The groundout call was not subject to video replay review, adding to the tension of the moment.
"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 explained post-game, expressing his frustrations over the call.
Making this scenario even more dramatic was the fact that James Jean was umpiring behind the plate for the first time after making his major league debut just days earlier. Crew chief Alan Porter signaled the contentious out call, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Astros' bench coach Joe Espada supported Altuve’s perspective, noting, "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."
Despite the high emotions, the Astros demonstrated resilience and focus, ultimately triumphing over the Mets in extra innings. The victory was sealed in the 11th inning when Jake Meyers hit a go-ahead single off Matt Festa. The momentum continued as Joey Loperfido followed with a two-run single, and Trey Cabbage hit a two-run double, significantly extending their lead.
Looking at the bigger picture, the win was monumental for the Astros as it lifted their record to 42-41, marking the first time they have been above the .500 mark this season. This comes after a challenging start where they opened the season with a 7-19 record and were sitting at 12-24 before May 9. It has been a season of ups and downs for the Astros, but their finish in June with a 17-8 record shows a team on the rise.
"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," added Meyers, speaking to the team's determination and perseverance.
Espada echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team's belief in themselves despite a rocky start. "I never lost faith in this group. I know that we were down, but we were not out, and I'm not surprised that we are where we are," he remarked.
Altuve’s individual performance continues to be a bright spot for the Astros. His current stats include a .304 batting average, 13 homers, 37 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases, underscoring his value and impact on the field.
The Houston Astros’ victory over the Mets wasn’t just another tally in the win column; it was a statement of their resilience and ability to overcome adversity. With key players like Altuve leading the charge and the team’s recent performance surge, the Astros are positioning themselves as a formidable force as the season progresses.