McCullers downplays Altuve spat, apologizes to teammates for being 'immature'

Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. shouldered the blame after cameras caught he and teammate Jose Altuve having a heated exchanged during the second inning of Saturday's game.

McCullers was frustrated after first baseman Yuli Gurriel made an error, and he became animated on the field. After the inning was over, Altuve threw his hat and glove down in the dugout and approached his pitcher.

McCullers said after the game that he apologized to his teammates for being "immature."

"In the second inning, I was real immature and let my emotions get the best of me," McCullers said, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "I showed my frustration and Altuve was letting me know that we're beyond that. I'm not 21 anymore. I've been around for enough - this is my fourth season with this team - and I know how hard they work and I know how hard they try.

"I feel really bad about letting my emotions get the best of me and I spoke to them. I apologized and it won't happen again. He was just letting me know that, if I'm going to pitch with emotion like I do, which is great - that's part of what makes me good - channel it for the right things."

Altuve downplayed the incident, chalking it up as a conversation between teammates.

"It wasn't anything, just talking," he said. "We talk a lot with teammates and we communicate. That's what makes us so good, we have good relationships with good chemistry and good relationships between us."