Jose Altuve ejected after going ballistic on umpire for call during Astros-Mets game

Jose Altuve inspired perhaps the loudest ovation of the afternoon Sunday at Citi Field, but it’s not how he planned to get the crowd on its feet.

The Astros star was ejected for arguing a call in the top of the seventh, when Altuve believed he had fouled a pitch off his foot and the umpiring crew saw it differently.

With runners on second and third and two outs in a game the Astros were leading, 4-2, Altuve made contact with a pitch that appeared to graze the bottom of his left foot and ground softly toward third base.

Altuve remained in the batter’s box, hopping around in apparent pain, as Mark Vientos fielded and fired to first base for the frame-ending out.

Jose Altuve was frustrated with the call and has been ejected pic.twitter.com/XZgQiWrdnJ

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 30, 2024

Jose Altuve slams his bat down while arguing a call in the seventh inning on Sunday. PIX11

Jose Altuve was ejected for his tirade against the umpires over the call. PIX11

Jose Altuve thought he fouled a ball off his foot, but the umpires ruled the ball was in play. PIX11

Altuve was incensed and argued with home-plate umpire James Jean, slamming his helmet and bat on the dirt before he was tossed from the game. Mets fans loudly cheered a baseball villain everywhere except Houston.

It was an all-around rough game for Altuve, who lost track of the number of outs in the fifth inning and was doubled off first base on a routine fly out.