An umpire crew's interference call ended a one-run Rockies-Pirates game when Pittsburgh runner R2 Billy Cook ran in front of Colorado 3B Kyle Karros and, in doing so, interfered with the fielder's ability to field the batted ball. Let's take a look.
With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning of a game Colorado led 2-1, Pirates batter Jake Mangum hit a 1-2 changeup from Rockies pitcher Jaden Hill on the ground toward 3B Karros, who prepared to field the ball as Pittsburgh baserunner R2 Cook ran by.
Although neither 2B Umpire Tyler Jones nor 3B Umpire Clint Vondrak called interference in real-time, Crew Chief Todd Tichenor convened his crew and, alongside HP Umpire Adam Hamari, exited the brief consultation by ruling baserunner Cook out for interference, resulting in the third and final out of the inning and of the ballgame itself.
Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10) states "it is interference by a batter or a runner when they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball." Meanwhile, "obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."
Interference on the other hand is defined as follows: "Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play." Note that contact between runner and fielder is not required for interference to be called. All that is needed is an act by the runner that simply impedes or hinders the fielder in their attempt to, in this case, field a batted ball.
From these rules and definitions, we are able to assemble a general baseball axiom.
During a batted ball, the fielder has the right of way to field the ball.
At any other time, the runner has the right of way to run the bases.
In other words, because 3B Karros was attempting to field a batted ball, that means he as the fielder has the right of way. Therefore, illegal interaction with the runner results in an interference call, even if there was no actual contact between the players, although in this case, the runner's left foot appeared to contact the fielder's glove prior to the ball's arrival.
