Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez's heads up play to throw Reds runner Elly De La Cruz out at third base after catching Nick Martini's fly ball saved Seattle a run, as HP Umpire John Libka ruled R3 Jake Fraley did not score prior to the time play's third out.
We review umpiring mechanics for time play situations—especially of the sacrifice fly-turned-inning-ending-double-play variety—and clarify (again) that an appeal play on a runner for failing to retouch (tag up) after a caught fly ball is not considered a force play, and thus, subject to time play rules.
Time Play Basics: Official Baseball Rule 5.08(a) states that, "One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base before three players are put out to end the inning." This means that on plays where a third out may occur, it is incumbent on the home plate umpire to prepare for the possibility that they will have to determine whether or not a preceding runner touched home plate prior to the third out being recorded behind them.
On this play, HP Umpire Libka lined up to see both Cincinnati baserunner R3 Fraley's impending touch of home plate and Seattle third baseman Josh Rojas' diving tag attempt on Reds runner R2 De La Cruz. When 3B Umpire Jonathan Parra, himself moving with the play to find the keyhole angle, called R2 De La Cruz out on the tag for the inning's third out, Libka emerged from behind home plate to indicate via the washout signal (similar to a "safe" sign except the arms are more elevated) that R3 Fraley's run would not score, as Fraley hadn't yet touched home plate prior to the third out on De La Cruz.
Exceptions to Time Plays: OBR 5.08(a) provides for three time play exceptions, meaning that even if a lead runner touches home prior to the third out, the run still will not count if the third out is a result of one of these scenarios. These are 1) a batter-runner retired before touching first base, 2) any runner being forced out, and 3) an appeal play for missing a base made on a preceding (ahead of) runner.
Appeal Plays: If any appeal play results on a preceding runner being declared out for the third out of the inning, no following runner is allowed to score. But if an appeal play is made on a
following runner, then the
preceding runner's run is treated as a Time Play—if the preceding runner touches home prior to the third out, the run will count. It is a rules myth that all tag-up or retouch appeals are treated as force plays—they are not, and are subject to timing rules if the runner being retired is trailing/following/behind the lead runner who is trying to score.
