Expert: John Priest - 11/11/2008

Question
I played in a game where a ground ball hit to the 3rd baseman went off his leg and into the dugout. There was a runner on 2nd at the time. The umpire only let the runner go to 3rd base and the batter to first. Is that right? I thought everyone got 2 bases. oh yeh, the hit was a hard line drive so it all happened before anyone got to move very far.

Answer
Mike,
The runners should have advance two bases according to the MLB rules.  Your league may have adopted their own rules so I would check you league rule book first.

Here is the MLB rule:

6.09
(e) A fair ball, after touching the ground, bounds into the stands, or passes through, over or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery, or vines on the fence, in which case the batter and the runners shall be entitled to advance two bases;
(f) Any fair ball which, either before or after touching the ground, passes through or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through any opening in the fence or scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery, or vines on the fence, or which sticks in a fence or scoreboard, in which case the batter and the runners shall be entitled to two bases;
(g) Any bounding fair ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over or under a fence on fair or foul territory, in which case the batter and all runners shall be entitled to advance two bases;
(h) Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.

Hope this help,
John Priest