Padres’ wild game vs. Astros ends in 10-inning defeat

SAN DIEGO — The Padres and Astros staged an instant classic on Tuesday night at Petco Park — the type of instant classic that made you wonder if these two teams might stage a few more come the end of next month.

In a game that featured just about everything — including a shoeless Jose Altuve, a mercilessly booed Josh Hader, multiple run-scoring wild pitches and a key hit-by-pitch that wasn’t — the Astros held on for a bonkers 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

“It kind of feels like a playoff game,” said Astros manager Joe Espada. “It’s a playoff atmosphere out there.”

Said Padres third baseman Manny Machado: “That’s what October is. It was a nice little taste.”

Here’s a rundown of all the wackiness:

Shoeless Jose
The Astros had the go-ahead run on second base with two outs in the ninth, when Altuve hit a grounder toward Machado. Altuve hopped and didn’t run to first, believing the ball had struck his foot.

Plate ump Brennan Miller disagreed, and Altuve was ruled out at first base. Shortly thereafter, amid the arguments, Altuve removed his shoe and sock and pointed to his toe where he’d been struck by the baseball. He was promptly ejected.

“It was a foul ball,” Altuve said. “It was obvious. I just wanted my at-bat against [Padres closer Robert] Suarez. I know he’s great, but I wanted to keep battling against him.”

In a crazy twist, Altuve’s ejection may have won the game for the Astros. His replacement, Grae Kessinger, made an outstanding diving play to end the game, robbing Machado of a potential game-winning hit with the bases loaded in the 10th.

Hader’s return
Josh Hader has never recorded a four-out save at Petco Park. But the former Padres closer emerged with two outs in the eighth inning looking to secure one on Tuesday night.

Last year, ahead of his free agency, Hader opted not to pitch in multiple innings with San Diego. That stance meant he was met with vociferous boos upon his emergence from the bullpen on Tuesday.

“I love this ballpark,” Hader said afterward. “I love pitching here. Obviously, I love the boos. Living rent-free is always a good time.”

Before he threw a pitch, Hader was called for a pitch-timer violation, but that was changed to a disengagement after a rules check by the umpiring crew. (Hader had, in fact, stepped off before the timer expired, and with a runner on base he was permitted the disengagement.)

But after a lengthy delay, Hader’s first pitch was in the dirt and got past Astros catcher Yainer Diaz. Fernando Tatis Jr. scampered home from third, and the game was tied, 3-3.

Ultimately, Hader got the last laugh, retiring the side in order in the ninth, which lined him up to be the winning pitcher.

Profar’s free pass
If you wondered why Jurickson Profar was visibly upset as he left first base following the end of the game — he wanted a chance to hit.

He came to the plate with two outs and the potential tying and winning runs aboard. Astros righty Héctor Neris brushed Profar back with his first pitch, but Profar maintained that the ball never made contact with him.

“I was mad that they called a hit by pitch,” Profar said. “That ball never hit me. I was ready to come back to hit, and then Manny told me they called hit by pitch.”

On the whole, the Padres didn’t mind. The bases were loaded for the red-hot Machado — who laced a 103 mph rocket toward Kessinger.

Machado’s homer that almost wasn’t
With the Padres trailing by two in the sixth, Machado worked a 3-0 count, then looked at what he thought was ball four, off the plate. Miller called it strike one. Machado vehemently disagreed. He also disagreed on strike two, at the top of the zone.

But there would be no chance for a called strike three. With the count full, Machado launched a game-tying homer off Astros starter Hunter Brown, sending Petco Park into a frenzy.

“I said thanks to the umpire for giving me the opportunity,” Machado said. “… I’ll take it all day.”

Wild pitches, wild inning
Before Hader’s wild pitch allowed the Padres to tie the game, Jason Adam’s wild pitch put the Astros in front.

After Yordan Alvarez’s one-out double in the eighth, Adam balked Alvarez to third, which changed the calculus. Fearsome lefty Kyle Tucker was at the plate, though he’d fallen into an 0-2 hole. But after two balls from Adam, the Padres issued a rare intentional walk in a 2-2 count.

“That’s a better situation,” Shildt said. “Tucker’s a low-strikeout guy who’s going to put it in play, typically.

Adam punched out Yainer Diaz, but his slider to Alex Bregman skipped away from Padres catcher Elias Díaz, and Alvarez raced home, colliding with Adam in the process. (Both came out unscathed).

“Once he got on third, I was going for more chase, just with the open bases,” Adam said. “That’s what led to the sliders in the dirt. But I’ve got to execute better than that.”

Playoff implications
The undercurrent to the night’s incredible drama: Postseason implications were riding on the game.

The Padres missed out on a chance to move 2 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the National League West race after L.A.’s loss in Miami. The Astros, meanwhile, grabbed a five-game lead on the Mariners in the American League West with 10 to play.

“This is what postseason baseball’s all about,” Machado said. “You saw it tonight.”

Since the All-Star break, the Astros have the best record in the American League. The Padres have the best record in baseball. Both appear bound for October. And if Tuesday night was any indication, they would stage quite a Fall Classic.