Smoak plunks Astros' Crowe in wild sequence

SEATTLE -- Trevor Crowe helped the Astros score their final run in Houston's 6-4 victory over the Mariners on Monday night, hitting a popup to foul territory in right field. But Crowe received pain for the gain when he was plunked by first baseman Justin Smoak's throw home while crouching in foul ground near the plate as Jonathan Villar sprinted home from third.

"That was a crazy play," Crowe said after the game. "I saw Smoak catch the ball, and I was kind of like, 'Oh my God, did I just foul out right there?' I put my head down and I felt something hit me and I looked to the right and there was the baseball, and I see Villar scampering home."

The wild play was even more unlikely given the situation. Crowe, a switch-hitter, was batting right-handed, so a foul popup to the opposite side was unexpected.

"I looked at the runner to see what he was doing, and he broke towards home so I threw it," Smoak said. "I didn't even look at home. So I let it go and the ball was halfway there and I saw him sitting there. It's part of the game, but right-handed batters don't normally foul out there."