I had a friend ask me this trivia question once, and how there can be 4 recorded outs in an inning. It happens with 1 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Batter hits a deep fly ball to right field that is caught for the 2nd out. Both runners try to advance after the catch. Runner on 3rd scores, but the runner on 2nd is thrown out at 3rd after the runner scores, giving you the 3rd out. Then, the 3rd baseman challanges the tag up at 3rd to contest that run, and that runner left the bag early, so they are called out as well, so they are the 4th out as well.
Has this ever happened or is it just a fun trivia question?
2007-05-26 15:11:56 · 17 answers · asked by Jeff W 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I have read a few where you say that contesting the runner scoring is a moot point, but if they scored first, before the runner on 2nd was thrown out at 3rd, it would be a run. If you contest the runner leaving the base early, and he is out, that takes away that run. That could mean the difference in the game there.
2007-05-26 15:41:40 · update #1
Something like that happened with Mike Pagliarulo back in 1989. Quoting from this link ( http://baseball.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=585140 )
"On July 1, 1989 ... (Bob) Geren was at first and Mike Pagliarulo was at third with one out for the Yankees. Wayne Tolleson was at the plate when the Yankees called for a squeeze. Geren figured that he'd run too, so he could get to second in case the Brewers got the out at the plate. Problem was, Tolleson lined his bunt back to the pitcher, who then threw to first to double off Geren. Pagliarulo scored before Geren was tagged out, but the run initially was not counted.
When Geren got behind the plate in the ninth, plate umpire Larry Barnett told him that if the Yankees appealed, the run would count because the Brewers didn't invoke the "fourth out rule," which is spelled out in rule 7.10(d). The Brewers could have appealed to third because Pagliarulo left early. They could have then had that out take precedence over Geren's out for the third out, and the run wouldn't have counted."
It looks like four outs, but only three count, and if the appeal is made and the run-preventing out called, the other runner is counted as left-on-base.
Check out the box score -- Tolleson is credited with an RBI despite hitting into a double play, which is extremely rare, but in this case correct.
2007-05-26 15:40:14 · answer #1 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A recognized "Fourth Out" is in the rules book and I have seen it many times (and ruled on it a few as well) in all levels of baseball. It is simply recorded as the third out by an appeal play (not a force) and the play regarding the runner from second is disregarded. There were 4 outs to the inning but only 3 can be recorded due to the rules of the game.
You have an astute mind for the game -- ever thought about umpiring?
2007-05-26 23:00:34 · answer #2 · answered by david w 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's only 3 outs, because of the challenge, the runner orginally on 3rd base is the third out. The out for the runner originally on 2nd is moot.
2007-05-26 15:18:40 · answer #3 · answered by hulidoshi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great question. There is no way to get 4 outs in an inning, but it's an interesting scenario.
You probably already know this, but a dropped third strike is considered an error. The pitcher can get 4 strikeouts in an inning, but it is not possible to get 4 outs in this situation. The dropped 3rd strike is treated as an error and the batter is not out.
2007-05-26 16:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by Sports Fix Chicago 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know of it happening before, but there still wouldn't be 4 outs recorded. The out would just be invalid at 3rd where the runner slid into from 2nd.
2007-05-26 15:30:05 · answer #5 · answered by SW1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well by the book there can never be four out though theoretically it is possible if the basses are loaded and the batter popsa flyball and the runners are outed on all the bases it would be four but still only three are required so ive never heard of a team try to get all four players out...
2007-05-26 15:23:48 · answer #6 · answered by Big D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure... several times. However, many times after an appeal is called and properly executed... the results are the same... only three outs.
There are other ways of giving the opposition more than three outs in an inning... they're called errors. With two out and an out should have been recorded but for an error, that's the same as giving them an extra out. But that isn't what you are referring to.
2007-05-26 16:28:19 · answer #7 · answered by Jay9ball 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, considering that there are six outs in an inning, of course there have been four outs recorded in an inning.
As for whether there can even be four outs recorded in a HALF inning, the answer is no.
In the play you describe, the third out is on the appeal at third; the sustained appeal at second is ignored. This is known as an "apparent fourth out." But that's all it is, an "apparent" fourth out.
2007-05-26 19:16:36 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. this can't happen. as soon as the third out is called, there would never be a reason for any player to contest a tag up. as soon as the 3rd out is recorded, the inning is over. and as far as what the person a couple above me stated about the drop third strik...it is true that it DOES indeed count as a strike out, but an out is definitely NOT recorded in the score book...3 outs are all you get. i was injured my senior year of college where i played and i learned A LOT about the scorebook.
2007-05-26 15:38:20 · answer #9 · answered by iwuball 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, and I believe there has actually been five a time or two. It can only occur on a strikeout and a dropped third strike by the catcher. On the score card it is recorded as a strikeout for the pitcher and the runner is safe at first on an error by the catcher. there have actually been pitchers that have recorded four strikeouts in an inning.
2007-05-26 15:28:55 · answer #10 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋