During Thursday night's Game 4 of the ALCS, Houston Astros second baseman José Altuve had a heart-stopping moment. A pitch from Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning came dangerously close to hitting him in the face, and the umpire's camera captured just how close it was.
A pitch gone awry
In the fourth inning, Dunning threw an 84 mph changeup aimed at Altuve.
However, the pitch veered off course, forcing Altuve to react swiftly. His quick reflexes saved him from a potentially dangerous situation.
Altuve's reaction was almost acrobatic. He leaned backward as if he were trying to walk under a limbo stick, tilting his head back to avoid the incoming ball. In the end, he lost his balance and fell flat on his back.
Umpire's perspective adds intensity
MLB on Fox released a video from the umpire's point of view, making the near-miss even more dramatic. The close-up footage revealed just how narrowly Altuve escaped being hit in the face or arm. His reaction, while initially puzzling, now makes complete sense.
After the close call, Dunning walked Altuve and was subsequently pulled from the game. He finished his short stint with four strikeouts, three runs, and three hits in just 2.2 innings.
Watch the near-hit below
