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