Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros’ second baseman, turned 31 on Thursday. No one would have expected Yankees fans to serenade a star of a reviled rival with a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” but simply ignoring the event would have been preferable for Altuve during his team’s 7-4 win at Yankee Stadium.
“Your birthday,” chanted Yankees fans, with a colorful expletive before “your.”
Two weeks ago, Yankees fans treated their favorite team in a similar fashion. They booed liberally, and perhaps rightfully so: The Yankees had a 6-11 record on April 21, and Giancarlo Stanton — a frequent target of their ire given his talent, huge contract and checkered injury history — was hitting .