The O’s and Guardians played at Progressive Field on Aug. 2, 2024. In the bottom of the sixth the Guardians scored two runs on a sac/fly in their 8-4 win.

The Guardians had the bases loaded and one out. Brayan Rocchio was on third, Austin Hedges was on second and Steven Kwan was on first when José Ramírez hit a fly ball to center field. Cedric Mullins made the catch and threw home. The ball was cut off by

first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Rocchio scored. Kwan got into a rundown between first and second and put pressure on the O’s defense. Meanwhile Hedges, the runner on second at the start of play, tagged-up and headed to third. When he saw Kwan in the rundown he raced home and beat Mountcastle’s throw. Kwan ended-up on first.

This was wise base running on the part of Kwan. Instead of running to second and risk the tag out, he kept pressure on the defense by returning to first base.

Ruleball Comments

• This was wise base running by Kwan.
• By retreating back to first he kept the defense busy which allowed time for Hedges to score.
• If Kwan was tagged for the third out, this would have been a “Time Play.” But because he remained at first base, the inning did not end.
• The worst thing Kwan could have done was to avoid a tag attempt by moving horizontally. If he did that and exceeded the three-foot baseline rule, he would be the third out, and if that occurred before Hedges crossed the plate, his run would not score.

Rich Marazzi

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