Houston Astros star Jose Altuve faced a rare moment of frustration and controversy during a heated contest against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Altuve, widely known for his composed demeanor, was ejected for only the second time in his distinguished Major League career, a stark contrast to the Astros' eventual triumph in an 11-inning showdown, which ended 10-5 in favor of Houston.
In the seventh inning, Altuve appeared to foul a ball off his left foot, but the hit was ruled an inning-ending groundout. The call, made by crew chief Alan Porter, was not subject to video replay review, leading to immediate consternation from Altuve and the Astros' bench. The frustration boiled over when Altuve, in a rare display of emotion, tossed his bat and helmet, prompting his ejection from the game. This incident marked his first ejection since August 6, 2016, in a match against the Texas Rangers.
"They didn't see it," Altuve later remarked. "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."
Astros Overcome Adversity
Despite the contentious moment, the Astros demonstrated resilience. The team, which started the season with a dismal 7-19 record and stood at 12-24 before May 9, exhibited significant improvement by finishing June with a spectacular 17-8 record. Their comeback spirit was on full display as they fought through the extra innings to secure the win against the Mets, lifting their record above the .500 mark for the first time this season at 42-41.
The scoring spree in the 11th inning was spearheaded by Jake Meyers, who hit a critical go-ahead single off Matt Festa. Following Meyers' lead, Joey Loperfido delivered a two-run single, and Trey Cabbage cemented the victory with a two-run double, extending the Astros' lead and sealing the fate of the Mets.
Reflecting on the team's perseverance, Jake Meyers shared, "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."
Joe Espada's Influence
The Astros' bench coach, Joe Espada, also played a crucial role in galvanizing the team throughout their ups and downs. Espada, who didn't hesitate to defend Altuve's reaction to the disputed call, noted, "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."
Espada's faith in the team's ability to rebound from a rough start was unwavering. "I never lost faith in this group. I know that we were down, but we're not out," Espada affirmed. "And I'm not surprised that we are where we are."
Altuve's Season So Far
Despite the ejection and the frustration that came with it, Altuve has had a commendable season. His current stats reflect his important role on the team with a .304 batting average, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
Looking Ahead
The remarkable victory over the Mets in such a dramatic fashion highlighted not only the team's growing momentum but also their potential to surge in the coming games. With influential players like Altuve providing both skill and motivation, and figures like Espada fostering a resilient team spirit, the Astros appear poised to continue their upward trajectory.