Sept. 18 (UPI) — Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was ejected for removing his shoe and sock in an effort to convince an umpire that he hit the ball into his foot during a dramatic extra-innings win over the San Diego Padres.
The odd scene unfolded in the top of the ninth inning of the 4-3 triumph Tuesday at Petco Park in San Diego.
“I got a foul ball because it hit my foot and they just took it away from me,” Altuve told reporters. “I don’t think it can happen. There were four [umpires] on the field.
“You’ve got to see the change of direction on the ball and just make the right call.”
The Astros and Padres were tied at 3-3 when Altuve walked to the plate to face pitcher Robert Suarez. The right-handed relief pitcher started the exchange with a 99.5-mph sinker, which was called a ball. Altuve swung and missed at the next offering. Suarez then issued a 100.3-mph sinker, which came high and inside.
Altuve whipped his bat through the zone and made contact with the ball, which he appeared to hit into his left foot, which would have resulted in a foul ball.
Instead, home plate umpire Brennan Miller ruled that the ball didn’t hit Altuve and was fair. Padres third baseman Manny Machado proceeded to field the ball and threw to first baseman Donovan Solano to retire Altuve and end the inning.
Altuve then removed his left sock and cleat and walked toward Miller while he was on the pitcher’s mound talking to Astros manager Joe Espada. Miller immediately ejected Altuve.
“It’s a foul ball,” Espada said. “You have to see the ball once it hits the foot, the flight of the ball, what the ball does. I don’t understand. That’s twice this year. I have a lot of respect for the umpires. They work hard. There’s four out there.
“For me, you have to be able to see it. They missed that play.”
Tuck gives us the lead! pic.twitter.com/oYQyZZFlWB— Houston Astros (@astros) September 18, 2024
Grae Kissinger, who replaced Altuve for the remainder of the game, went on to score the winning run off a single from Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker in the top of the 10th inning. Kessinger also made a spectacular, sliding defensive play, which ended the game and sealed the victory.
Machado was at the plate, with the bases loaded, during that sequence. He hit the game’s final pitch, a 1-2 fastball, through the middle of the field.
Kessinger ran to his right, slid in the infield dirt and gloved the ball. He then flipped it to shortstop Jeremy Pena, who tagged second base for the final out of the night.
Altuve went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts in the Astros win. Tucker and third baseman Alex Bregman logged two hits apiece. Astros starter Hunter Brown allowed five hits and two runs over six innings, but was not on record for a decision.
Padres starter Michael King allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings, but also was not on record for a decision. Machado went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs in the loss. Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
WHAT A PLAY GRAE KESSINGER!!! pic.twitter.com/VEfOnH6TFC— Houston Astros (@astros) September 18, 2024
The Padres (86-66) will host the Astros (82-69) in the series finale at 6:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday in San Diego.
