Jose Altuve had a bone to pick with the umpire. But taking off his cleat and his sock to reveal the bare facts just got him ejected.
In one of the more unusual moments of the 2024 MLB season, the Houston Astros second baseman was called out in the top of the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres on a ground ball that appeared to nip his big toe while he was in the batter’s box.
Home plate umpire Brennan Miller didn’t see the contact and allowed the out to stand.
Still steamed as the Astros took the field for the bottom of the ninth, Altuve took off his cleat and his sock to point to the exact spot where the ball hit his toe. Miller wasted no time tossing him from the game.
“It was a foul ball,” Altuve said, per MLB.com. “It was obvious. I just wanted my at-bat against (Robert) Suarez. I know he’s great, but I wanted to keep battling against him.”
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The groundout prevented Altuve from having a chance to drive in the go-ahead run from second base as the game went to the bottom of the ninth tied 3-3.
What upset the Astros the most was that Miller was unwavering in his decision and didn’t ask any of his fellow umpires for assistance on the call.
And instant replay couldn’t bail the Astros out either. The foul ball call wasn’t reviewable, so the out stood.
In addition to Altuve, Houston manager Joe Espada was also tossed from the game.
As it turned out, the game went to extra innings − and the Astros’ Kyle Tucker delivered what would be the game-winning RBI single in the top of the 10th.
And Altuve’s teammates didn’t have to share in the pain of de-feet.