Jose Altuve Ejected in Astros' Triumphant Extra-Inning Win Over Mets
In an intense game that stretched into extra innings, the Houston Astros managed to pull off a 10-5 victory against the New York Mets. The game, played at Citi Field, had no shortage of drama, especially with the ejection of Houston's star player, Jose Altuve, in the seventh inning.
Altuve, known for his professionalism and calm demeanor, was ejected for just the second time in his illustrious career. The incident occurred when Altuve appeared to foul a ball off his left foot, an act which was ruled as an inning-ending groundout by crew chief Alan Porter. Expressing his frustration, Altuve tossed his bat and helmet, leading to his prompt ejection.
"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.
Altuve’s frustration is understandable, considering that the contentious groundout call was not subject to video replay review. The plate umpire, James Jean, was behind the plate for just the first time after his recent major league debut, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
"The ball kind of took a different direction once it hit the ground, to [Mets' infielder] 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," commented Astros’ bench coach, Joe Espada.
Despite the ejection and the emotional surge it brought about, the Astros remained undeterred and carried the game into extra innings. The eleventh inning saw a flurry of decisive batting action. Jake Meyers hit a go-ahead single off the Mets' reliever Matt Festa. Joey Loperfido then followed with a crucial two-run single, and Trey Cabbage hammered in a two-run double, effectively putting the game out of the Mets' reach.
Meyers reflected on the significant win, saying, "It was a goal to get to .500 before the All-Star break. It kind of shows that we've been grinding through the season, ups and downs."
The victory was a notable one for the Astros, elevating their record to 42-41, marking the first time they surpassed the .500 mark this season. Initially, the season was rocky for Houston as they started with a disappointing 7-19 record and were 12-24 by May 9. However, the team showcased resilience, finishing June with a stellar 17-8 record.
Espada highlighted the team's determination and belief, "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."
Altuve's performance this season has been impressive, boasting a .304 batting average, 13 homers, 37 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. His ability to perform consistently underlines his importance to the Astros' lineup, and his brief absence due to the ejection was a momentary disruption rather than a defining moment in the game.
The Astros’ recent resurgence, capped by this remarkable win over the Mets, sets a confident tone as they move forward in the season. As they continue to adjust and improve, the memories of their early struggles are fading, replaced by the resurgence of a team focused on proving their mettle in the major league.