Expert: Tom Schott - 6/29/2007

Question
QUESTION: Rule 7.12
Unless two are out, the status of a following runner is not affected by a preceding runner’s failure to touch or retouch a base. If, upon appeal, the preceding runner is the third out, no runners following him shall score. If such third out is the result of a force play, neither preceding nor following runners shall score.

Help me out here.  Bases loaded two outs.  Batter hits what looks like a triple with three runners crossing the plate, but upon appeal batter is called out at second for not touching the base.  How many runs score?  

Based on the "force play" language above, if bases loaded, batter hits triple, on appeal the runner that was on second is ruled out at third for not having touched that base.  Since that runner was forced to run to third does that mean that no runs score, preceding or following runners?




ANSWER: Francisco,

The way I read your question, it's the =batter= we're concerned with. He is the third out of the inning on appeal because he did not touch second. But the three runs that have crossed the plate as result of the hit will count.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, we had that situation in a LL game and it took a while, but umpires finally go it right.

What about the second situation I mention, bases loaded, batter hits a bases clearing triple, but the runner on second is called out on appeal for not having touched third base.  Does the last sentence of Rule 7.12 mean that no preceding or following runners score because the runner on second was forced to run to third?  Rating coming up.

Answer
Yes, I think you are reading the rule correctly; that is the way I read it. In the case of the =runner= on second failing to touch third--well, there are 2 outs and he fails to touch the bag as a result of his being forced to run there. Seems 7.12 would apply, although logic would seem to dictate that the run scoring from third on the play would count.