Framber Valdez’s breaking balls had Mike Zunino snapping his bat in half (Video)

Framber Valdez got into Mike Zunino’s head with breaking balls he just couldn’t hit during the fifth inning of Game 6 of the ALCS.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the middle of a potentially historic choke job, so it makes sense the players are a bit frustrated at the moment.

The frustration spilled over for Mike Zunino on Friday in a very physical way. He was so upset over a three-pitch strikeout that he broke a bat over his knee.

You can thank Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez for that one.

Framber Valdez got the better of Mike Zunino, who let his frustration show

It was the bottom of the fifth inning after the Astros had just scored four runs to take a commanding lead over the Rays. Clearly, Zunino wanted to make something happen for his team.

Instead, Valdez delivered three consecutive 80 mph breaking ball. Zunino bit on each and every one, striking out looking.

Valdez dealt with his curveball in six innings of action for the Astros. He allowed just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts. He won both of his prior postseason outings in the Wild Card against Minnesota and the ALDS against Oakland.

It was an all-around frustrating outing for Zunino. He grounded out in the third inning and couldn’t wrangle a wild pitch to advance Jose Altuve into scoring position in the seventh inning to set off another Houston scoring run.

The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Astros in the ALCS, but things have gone horribly wrong since then. Houston grabbed Games 4 and 5 to stave off elimination, forcing Friday night’s Game 6. They are looking to become the first team since the 2004 Boston Red Sox to force a Game 7 after going down 3-0. The Red Sox, of course, went on to win the World Series.