RUNNER
a) Hit by batted ball between bases: Any runner is out if, between
bases, he is hit by a batted ball that has not passed a fielder. (The pitcher
is excepted.)
Play 10: R2 heads for third on a ball hit toward short. The ball
hits the runner. Ruling: R2 is out. B1 is awarded first.
Play 11: R2. F5 is creeping in, expecting a bunt. B1 swings away
and slaps one by F5. The ball hits R2. The umpire is certain: (a) F6 had no
chance to get B1 out; or (b) F6 had a reasonable chance to field the ball and
throw out B1. Ruling: In (a), play continues. The ball passed a fielder, and
no other fielder had a chance at the ball. In (b), interference. The ball is
dead, R2 is out, B1 is awarded first.
b) Hit by deflected ball: A runner hit by a ball that has touched an umpire,
fielder, or another runner is not out unless the umpire judges deliberate
interference.
Play 12: R2. F5 creeps in anticipating a bunt. B1 swings away,
and the ball goes off F5's glove and hits R2 just as F6 was about to make the
catch. Ruling: Live ball even though F6 would have made the play for an out.
c) Hit while on base:
i) Not an infield fly: Any runner touching his base who is hit by a fly
ball (not an infield fly) or a ground ball is out, and the ball is dead.
Play 13: R1 is stealing when B1 slaps the ball up the middle.
As R1 slides onto the base at second, he is hit by the batted ball. Ruling:
R1 is out; B1 is awarded first.
ii) Infield fly: Any runner touching his base who is hit by an infield
fly is not out. The batter is out, and the ball is dead.
iii) Deflected ball: A runner on base is never out, except for deliberate
interference, if the batted ball has first touched a fielder, the umpire,
or another runner.
d) Interferes between bases:
i) With fielder after another fielder deflects ball: If the fielder following
a deflection by another fielder can reach the ball without moving, contact
between the runner and fielder is interference.
ii) With fielder after muffing a ball: If the fielder following a muff
can reach the ball without moving, contact between the runner and fielder
is interference.
iii) With fielder after pitcher deflects ball: If the fielder and runner
have contact after a pitcher deflects the ball, there is no penalty if the
umpire judges the runner had little or no chance to change direction.
e) Interferes while on base:
i) Prevents catch: A runner is not required to leave his base to permit
a fielder to catch a fly ball, but he may not deliberately interfere.
Play 14: R2. B1's fly is coming down right on second. F4 tries
for the catch but cannot reach it because of R2. The umpire is certain that
R2: (a) interfered unintentionally by remaining on the base; or (b) deliberately
prevented F4 from making the catch. In (a), the play stands. In (b), interference.
With two out, the batter is out. With fewer than two out, both R2 and B1 are
out. (Rumble interpretation that matches the OBR rule)
ii) Prevents throw: A runner on base may not interfere by preventing the
fielder from playing on another runner.
Play 15: R1 stealing on the pitch. Ball hit to F6, who throws not in time
for the out at second. As F4 starts to play on the batter-runner, R2 deliberately
prevents the throw. Ruling: R1 is out, but B1 is awarded first.
iii) Verbally confuses defense: No game participant may confuse the defense
with the intention of causing a misplay. Penalty: The runner involved is
out.
Play 16: R3. B1 pops up near the on-deck circle. Just as F2 is
about to make the catch, the on-deck batter screams: "Watch third! Watch
third!" The catcher drops the ball. Ruling: Interference.
The ball is dead, R3 remains, and B1 is out.
Note: Since R1 is safe, he did not interfere in a double-play situation.
Therefore, only R1 is out.