SAN DIEGO — Moments after Jose Altuve was ejected for taking off his left cleat and sock making an attempt to show some extent, his alternative, Grae Kessinger scored the go-ahead run within the tenth inning after which made a sensational play at second base to seal the Houston Astros’ wild 4-3 win in opposition to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night time.
Altuve grounded out to 3rd for the ultimate out of the ninth however insisted he had fouled the ball off his foot.
In a loopy scene, he took off his cleat and sock, making an attempt to point out the umpires the place the ball hit, which bought him ejected by plate umpire Brennan Miller.
Supervisor Joe Espada was tossed after persevering with to argue.
“Typically you get hit someplace within the hand and you’re taking your batting glove to point out you bought hit. I used to be anticipating to do the identical factor,” Altuve stated.
“It was going via my head that it could’t occur,” he added. “It’s the ninth inning, successful run on second base, I’m battling in opposition to pitcher, (Robert) Suarez, the nearer, so I’m clearly making an attempt to get successful and drive the run in and win the sport. I get a foul ball as a result of it hit my foot they usually simply took it away from me. I don’t assume that may occur. There are 4 guys on the sphere and you’ll see the change of course on the ball. Simply make the appropriate name.”
Espada was nonetheless wound up afterward.
“It’s a foul ball,” the supervisor stated. “You must see the ball as soon as he hits the foot, the flight of the ball. I don’t get it. I don’t perceive. That’s twice this yr. I’ve loads of respect for the umpires. They work exhausting. However there are 4 on the market. You’ve to have the ability to see it. They missed that decision.”
Kessinger began the tenth as the automated runner rather than Altuve, superior on Yordan Alvarez’s groundout and scored on Kyle Tucker’s single to left off Adrian Morejon (2-2).
Astros reliever Héctor Neris loaded the bases with two outs within the backside of the tenth earlier than getting Manny Machado to floor right into a power play on a terrific backhanded cease by Kessinger, who flipped the ball to shortstop Jeremy Peña to finish it.
It was Kessinger’s first recreation with the Astros since July 13.
“Proper earlier than he hit it, I used to be pondering he’s going to hit a ball up the center and it’s going to hit off the mound, and that’s precisely what occurred. However go catch it. That’s the job,” Kessinger stated.
He figured he was going to get into the sport after Altuve was tossed.
“As he began to untie his shoe, I began to seize my glove. I didn’t know if I used to be the one which was going to be stepping into, however I didn’t know what he was doing, however I used to be simply preparing,” Kessinger stated.
The Padres failed so as to add to their wild-card lead over the Diamondbacks and Mets and remained 3 ¹/₂ video games behind Los Angeles within the NL West.
