Astros Player Gets First MLB Hit, Then Wanders Off And Gets Tagged Out

Otherwise, Max Stassi's debut with the Astros went quite well.

Stassi, a 22-year-old catcher, was called up to the big club for the first time on Tuesday because of an injury to Carlos Corporan. He was immediately sent to Arlington and plugged into the starting lineup as a DH. After striking out in his first at-bat, Stassi led off the fifth by punching a single to center. Two batters later, Marwin Gonzalez bounced one back to pitcher Jason Frasor, whose throw sailed past Elvis Andrus and into the glove of Ian Kinsler, who was backing up the play.

Stassi, not realizing Andrus didn't catch the ball and force him at second, thought he was already out. A moment later, Stassi casually ambled off the bag. Kinsler made it official.

The announcers called it a hidden-ball trick, but it wasn't that, since the Rangers made no real attempt at deception. Stassi explained himself after the game:

"I slid in and lost track of the ball," Stassi said. "I thought [Andrus] was on second, and the ball went past him. That's totally on me, and it's something that'll never happen again in my career. It just so happened on my debut.

"It didn't feel too good, especially in a close ballgame."

Stassi would later single in the seventh to finish 2-for-3. The Astros, who had the lead at the time of his brain fart, would go on to lose. It's what they do.