Home Keeping scoreGreat Britain Baseball Scorers AssociationYou Are the Scorer You Are the Scorer: Number 26

You Are the Scorer: Number 26

by Joe Gray

YouAreScorer

Scenario: With runners on first and third, the trailing runner sets off to steal second. The pitch bounces in the dirt and gets away from the catcher; seeing this, the lead runner takes off for home. The catcher recovers the ball and throws it to the pitcher, who is covering the plate, and the tag is applied in time to retire the runner. The other runner comfortably reaches second.

As the official scorer, how would you score the play?

A – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.
B – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.
C – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on wild pitch.
D – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on wild pitch.
E – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on fielder’s choice.
F – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on fielder’s choice.

Highlight the text below to reveal the answer:

Answer:
 B – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.

The lead runner cannot be caught stealing because the attempt to advance was triggered by the wild pitch (see Rule 10.07(h) Comment). So this rules out A, C, and E.

The trailing runner was attempting to steal, so the advance cannot be credited as happening on a wild pitch (see Rule 10.07(a)). This rules out D. So it is either B or F.

Rule 10.07(d) states:
When a double- or triple-steal is attempted and one runner is thrown out before reaching and holding the base such runner is attempting to steal, no other runner shall be credited with a stolen base.

However, since the lead runner was not trying to steal (having set off after the pitch got away from the catcher), this does not apply here. There does not appear to be anything else in the rules that says a stolen base cannot be awarded, and the runner reaching second is certainly not benefiting from the catcher attempting a play at the plate.

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