ARLINGTON -- Marcus Semien couldn¡¯t believe it.

The Rangers seemed primed to rally after the Astros¡¯ big four-run fourth in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, and the second baseman had just singled to put runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the fifth.

Then, in a flash, Semien was doubled off -- because of the batting gloves in his back pocket.

Houston first baseman Jos¨¦ Abreu caught a 108.6 mph line drive from Corey Seager and raced to tag Semien, who doubled back to the first-base bag. Abreu dove and grazed the index finger of a batting glove hanging out of Semien¡¯s back pocket.

¡°I told Jos¨¦, I know in Cuba they don't play football, but you've got to tackle and make sure he doesn't get to the bag,¡± Astros manager Dusty Baker quipped.

And although Semien was originally called safe by first-base umpire Jordan Baker, the Astros challenged the play and got a crucial second out to stifle the potential Texas comeback and secure a 10-3 win on Thursday night at Globe Life Field to even the series.

Semien was shown on the FOX broadcast saying to Baker, ¡°He touched my batting glove.¡±

According to the MLB rulebook, the person of a player is ¡°any part of his body, his clothing or his equipment.¡± An MLB statement provided clarification of ¡°91.TOUCH,¡± which in the Umpire Manual Rule Interpretation states the following:

¡°Regarding the definition of a touch, equipment intentionally placed somewhere by a player should be considered worn in its intended place.¡±

The statement went on to use this play as an example of the rule: ¡°Batting gloves placed in a player¡¯s back pocket are in the intended place on his person.¡±

Semien called the tag ¡°a bit of bad luck,¡± but he credited Abreu for making the play. Abreu simply said the play happened fast enough to allow him to tag Semien.

¡°I¡¯ve been keeping my gloves in my back pocket for my entire career, and that's never happened,¡± Semien said. ¡°Of course in the ALCS it happens, and it's tough. We want to get a big inning there. We get two hits, Corey hits the ball hard and then suddenly it¡¯s two outs.¡±