About Geoff Expertise Huge baseball trivia lover! I will attempt to answer anything you can think of when it comes to major league baseball. I have a large reference library of all things baseball. Try to stump me!
I am wondering how many runs, if any, would count in this scenario, Bases Loaded, Batter hits a Home Run. Runner from third fails to touch home plate. Defense appeal is upheld and the runner is called out. I am guessing that there is an answer for 2 outs and a different one for less than 2 outs. Also what would the batter be credited with? Thanks.
Answer Hi Frank,
This one kind of depends on an interpretation of the rules rather than "trivia". Here's the closest thing I kind find in the rule book:
"Rule 7.08(a) Comment: Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the baseline heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases. Even though an out is called, the ball remains in play in regard to any other runner.
This rule also covers the following and similar plays: Less than two out, score tied last of ninth inning, runner on first, batter hits a ball out of park for winning run, the runner on first passes second and thinking the home run automatically wins the game, cuts across diamond toward his bench as batter-runner circles bases. In this case, the base runner would be called out “for abandoning his effort to touch the next base” and batter-runner permitted to continue around bases to make his home run valid. If there are two out, home run would not count."
So if the runner on third didn't touch home plate (nor was he tagged out), I suppose the umpire could call him out for "abandoning his effort to touch the next base". If there are less than two outs, the batter gets credit for a 3-run home run. If there are two outs then all the rule says is that the home run doesn't count. I'm thinking all the batter would get would be credit for reaching first base on a fielder's choice(?), kind of like if the 3rd out was recorded as a force out at home.
