Jose Altuve takes off soccer shoe to protest decision in Astros-Padres game – NBC 7 San Diego

Baseball fans have heard of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.

But have you heard of “Shoeless” Jose Altuve?

In the ninth inning of the Astros-Padres game on Tuesday, Altuve appeared to foul a ball with his left foot. However, umpires ruled the ball never hit his foot and Altuve was subsequently ejected at first base.

Altuve couldn't believe the decision, took off his shoe and sock and suddenly stood barefoot at home base, where he showed the umpire the ball print on his left foot. Altuve was sent off for his behavior, but it was a unique and wild scene in a pretty crazy game.

The Padres and Astros both had costly wild pitches, great defensive plays, decisive hits, and plenty of umpire trouble, as well as plenty of booing of a Houston player from the spirited crowd at Petco Park.

When Josh Hader pitched for the Padres last season, he refused to play in games where he had to get more than three outs. On Tuesday night, Hader, now an Astro, came out of the bullpen with two outs in the eighth inning to protect a one-run lead. Padres fans let Hader hear it with a chorus of sustained boos. Hader's first pitch was a wild pitch that allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to score the tying point.

In the 10th inning, after Houston had taken a 4-3 lead by one run, umpires ruled that Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar had been hit by a pitch. Replays appeared to show the ball missed Profar. Profar seemed upset that he didn't get a chance to bat, and the Astros bench couldn't believe the decision.

The hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two outs and brought Manny Machado to bat. Machado hit what appeared to be a walk-off two-run single up the middle, but Astros second baseman Grae Kessinger stopped the ball with a great backhand hit on his knees and then threw it to second base for the final out of the game.

As the referees left the field, there was a lot of chirping and chattering from both teams.

With the loss, the Padres remained 3.5 games behind the leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 2.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL wild card race.