Play No. 1

Walker Keeps Force Alive

The Braves hosted the Astros on September 19, 2025. In the bottom of the fourth, Atlanta had Ronald Acuña Jr. on first with one out when Blake Baldwin hit a ground ball to first baseman Christian Walker. Acuña briefly froze before retreating to first. Walker tagged Acuña, who was standing on the bag, and then stepped on first to retire Baldwin for an unassisted double play. First base umpire Tony Randazzo made both calls.

Ruleball Comments

• Credit Walker for keeping the force alive by tagging Acuña before stepping on first base.
• If Walker stepped on first before tagging Acuña, only Baldwin would have been put out because the force would have been removed.
• It’s difficult to understand why Acuña froze. It’s possible he was hoping that Walker would step on first before he was tagged. That would remove the force and if Acuña could get back to first safely, he would avoid being retired.
• Whenever an infielder has two runners near or on a base in a force situation, it’s always wise to tag the lead runner to keep the force alive.

Play No. 2

Unusual 4-2-6 Force Out

In the deciding Game 3 of the Cardinals–Padres 2020 Wild Card Series, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina completed a force play that surprised many— including shortstop Paul DeJong and second-base umpire Doug Eddings.

The Padres had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh with no outs. Fernando Tatís Jr. was on third, Manny Machado on second, and Eric Hosmer on first when Tommy Pham hit a bouncer to second baseman Kolten Wong. Hosmer, heading to second, slowed down, anticipating a 4-4-3 double play. But Wong fired home for the force, and Molina threw to second, where DeJong—foot on the base—attempted to tag a sliding Hosmer. Eddings called Hosmer safe. After the play, it was ruled that Hosmer was actually out on a force, making the tag unnecessary. The Cardinals had turned a very rare 4-2-6 force double play.

Ruleball Comments

• Because Tatís, the lead runner on third base, was initially retired at home, the force remained in effect for the three trail runners because the batter-runner (Pham) forced Machado and Hosmer to advance. Molina could have thrown to any of the three bases to retire a runner without a tag after Tatís was put out because the force was kept alive.
• When the batter-runner is the first out of a continuing play, no other runner is forced to advance, and a tag is required to retire a runner.
• I’ll be honest, my initial reaction, like Eddings, was to call Hosmer safe as well. It’s not every day you see a 4-2-6 force out.
• Depending on the game situation, IMO, infielders on all levels should be taught the importance of keeping the force alive by playing on the lead runner in force situations when there are multiple runners on base. By keeping the force alive, it allows the defense to record multiple outs in the same play. Of course this would exclude routine inning-ending double play situations.
• If a following or trail runner is initially put out on a force play at any base, including first base, the force is removed for the other runners and to retire a runner, he must be tagged. If Wong had tagged Hosmer between first second, this would have removed the force for the runners on second (Machado ) and third (Tatís) which would require a tag to retire either runner. Pham, the batter-runner, would not have to be tagged to be put out at first base.

Play No. 3

Jeff Nelson Bunt Triple Play: Sojo Keeps the Force Alive

The Infield Fly Rule does not apply on bunts or line drives, regardless of height. A smart pitcher or infielder can use this to his advantage—especially if he understands how to keep the force alive.

On July 13, 1995, the Blue Jays and Mariners met in Seattle. In the top of the ninth, Toronto had runners on first and second with no outs when M’s pitcher Jeff Nelson allowed a pop bunt from Sandy Martinez to drop untouched. Nelson picked it up and started a 1-6-6-3 triple play. Shortstop Luis Sojo kept the force alive by tagging the runner from second, then stepping on the bag before throwing to first. Allowing a bunt to fall untouched is risky, but Nelson reacted instinctively.

Joey Cora’s frantic attempts to tag every runner in sight during the play were comedic gold.

Ruleball Comments

• Nelson once told me that allowing the bunt to fall untouched to the ground was not planned. He simply reacted spontaneously.
• The real hero in this scenario was Sojo who kept the force alive by tagging the lead runner in the play before stepping on second and throwing to first.

Play No. 4

Force Is Reinstated

Though rare, a force can be reinstated. In a 2020 Labor Day matchup, the Indians hosted the Royals. In the bottom of the sixth, Cleveland had Francisco Lindor on first with no outs when Carlos Santana doubled off the right-field wall, fielded by Edward Olivares. Lindor reached second but inexplicably retreated toward first before heading for third—yet he completely missed second base on his way through. Santana arrived safely at second.

Olivares threw the ball in, and the Royals appealed the missed base. Pitcher Brad Keller threw to second baseman Whit Merrifield, who stepped on the bag. Umpire James Hoye ruled Lindor out.

Ruleball Comments

• When Lindor retreated back to first base after touching second base the force was reinstated under rule 5.09 (b) (6). It reads in part, “…If the forced runner after touching the next base retreats for any reason towards the base he last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced.” The Royals could have tagged Lindor or the base when they appealed. They chose to tag the base. A continuous action appeal would have been the preferred choice.
• Because the play ended in a force out at second base, Santana lost his hit, and the play was scored a “fielder’s choice.” If it was the third out of the inning, and a preceding runner crossed the plate on the play, the run would not count because the inning would have ended in a force play.
• No run can score when an inning ends in a force play-perhaps the most important reason to keep the force alive.

Q: Can an inning end in a force play if a runner is tagged out?
A: Yes. With bases loaded and two outs, if the batter hits a grounder to third and the third baseman chases down the runner from second in a rundown and tags him out after the runner from third crosses home, the run does not count. That runner was forced to advance, and his tag ends the inning on a force.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst: Angels, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and Chicago Sports Network