Inside the Astros

WATCH: Neris Nearly Hits Astros Teammate Altuve in Face With Pitch During WBC

Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris nearly hit second baseman Jose Altuve in the face with a pitch during Saturday's World Baseball Classic matchup.
Kade Kistner|
WATCH: Neris Nearly Hits Astros Teammate Altuve in Face With Pitch During WBC
WATCH: Neris Nearly Hits Astros Teammate Altuve in Face With Pitch During WBC

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Houston Astros

Team Venezuela and the Dominican Republic faced off in the group stage of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday and there was some drama. No, not between the two rival countries, but between two Houston Astros teammates.

Astros reliever Héctor Neris of the Dominican Republic faced off against second baseman Jose Altuve, who was leading off for Venezuela in the bottom of the fourth inning.  

On two separate occasions throughout the at-bat, Neris nearly hit Altuve twice, one of which nearly hit him straight in the head. Clearly it was not on purpose, but Neris's wild pitching could have become a problem had Altuve not been a little more nimble on his feet. 

Chandler Rome of The Houston Chronicle asked manager Dusty Baker about the at-bat later.

"I was like 'Oh Lord,'" Baker said. "I went to sleep before I had a nightmare."

Luckily, disaster was avoided and will make for some interesting conversation in the clubhouse later this spring. 

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Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!

Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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