Strange event at the South County / Lake Braddock game Friday. Runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. The batter has a 3-2 count. On the next pitch, the catcher receives the pitch, pops up and fires down to the SS to get the runner diving back to 2b. The field ump calls the runner out. The ump at home plate was not real vocal about the pitch call, but did not indicate a strike or strike out. He waves his arms (indicating that time is called) and walks towards 2b as the batter heads to 1st base. The runner on second that was called out walked about 10 feet towards 1B (back to dugout) and was tagged by a fielder with the ball again. A great debate erupted as the SC coach asserted that the runner at 2b was entitled to 3b and could not be tagged out. The umps discussed the call and confirmed the out call. I was not able to hear what explanation they gave the coach.
Is there any way the umpires got this right? Is there any way a runner on 2b can be tagged out before he is awarded 3b on a walk forced advance?
Surely the fact that the runner walked off and was tagged after being called out could not be the cause of upholding this ruling?
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