Red Sox’s Triston Casas Explains ‘At-Bat Blunder’ Against Astros

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas spent nearly four months on the team's injured list, however, the 24-year-old's strange at-bat in the second inning wasn't at all linked to the post-injury motions of getting reacclimated in a big league batter's box.

Casas stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded against Houston's Ronel Blanco, and was set down by an automatic strike three call after it appeared the left-handed slugger pleaded for a timeout from home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson -- but was charged with a pitch-clock violation. Red Sox manager Alex Cora popped out of Boston's dugout for a quick chit-chat with Tomlinson while Casas later clarified the "blunder" during the team's 6-5 win at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night.

"I had called time after the first swing and miss and then hit the foul ball, and for some reason when I stepped into the box, my bat felt a little loose," Casas told reporters in Houston. "I thought I had broken it, and before I had thought about the timeout scenario, I wanted to check it or tap it on the plate or something, and as soon as I put my hand up, I realized that I hadn’t, and then it was too late by that time. But that bat is definitely broken now; it's probably in seven or eight pieces."

Casas added: "My at-bat blunder definitely fired me up for the rest of the game."

Boston snagged a quick and early lead over Houston, courtesy of a two-run home run from Casas -- the first belted since April 19. He finished 2-for-3 at the plate while drawing a pair of walks, contributing to a much-needed win in the most desperate stretch of the season. The Red Sox set up a rubber match with the Astros for Wednesday afternoon and gained some ground in the American League wild card standings, now trailing the Kansas City Royals by 3 1/2 games. For Casas, meanwhile, it was business as usual in Houston.

"I try to have the at-bats that the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox would have," Casas said, per NESN. "I take pride in that title. I don't take it for granted. I don't take it lightly. I come out here and try to prove it every single day that I deserve that spot. So, getting on base, hitting for power, getting hits, that's part of that job, and those are the requirements for that position so that's what I wanna do for a really long time."