Final Play Question

It's a sacrifice, unless you think the bunt would've been a base hit if they'd made an attempt on the runner, per below:

Rule 10.08 (b) Score a sacrifice bunt when, before two are out, the fielders handle a bunted ball without error in an unsuccessful attempt to put out a preceding runner advancing one base, unless, an attempt to turn a bunt into a putout of a preceding runner fails, and in the judgment of the official scorer ordinary effort would not have put out the batter at first base, in which case the batter shall be credited with a one-base hit and not a sacrifice;

From what you describe, I think its sacrifice and RBI. Congrats on the big win!

Just a question JMoff, since you answered the bunt question what about a ground ball resulting in a similar scenario where they go after the lead runner and don't get him is that an FC or is that an infield single?

OBR -- 2.00: "FIELDER’S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner." ...

There's no mention of having to get the baserunner out in order to qualify for a FC. It's all about the attempt.

Now, whether or not the batter could have beat it out -- that's a separate issue.

If routine ground ball to an infielder, they come home and runner at home is safe and you believe it would've been an out with ordinary effort had they gone to first, then FC with RBI (and a big handshake for doing the job).

I would always score fielder's choice unless in your opinion the batter would've been safe at first if the attempt had been made at first base and no out was made on a preceeding runner.

An example is a runner at second and ground ball deep in the SS hole. SS makes backhanded diving stop and has no chance (in your opinion) of getting batter at first, so makes an attempt on runner at third. If runner at third is out, score FC. If runner at third is safe, score single. If runner at second holds and fielder flips to third baseman, single.

Another classic is the runner at first, less than two outs and the pop up to shallow center. Fielder's converge but ball drops and they throw to second for the out. In this case FC. If runner at second is safe, I score single. Even though they made an attempt on the preceeding runner, the batter would've been safe if they'd made the attempt on him. He's usually rounding first wondering what the heck the lead runner was thinking.

I admit I'm having trouble matching this all up with the rules, but it's the way its always scored.