The third out of the inning is the last one and should send the team at bat into the field. In most cases, it is fairly cut and dried. With two outs in an inning, the batter sends the ball skyward and the right fielder catches the ball. The team in the field trots into their dugouts and the team at bat trades places. But there are several circumstances in which the third out is not the end of the inning.
Missed Third Strike
It's not enough for a pitcher to strike out the batter to end the inning. The catcher must control the ball and not let it hit the ground after the batter has taken his swing or the umpire has called a third strike. If the catcher fails to catch the ball, the batter can run toward first base. If the catcher cannot tag him with the ball or throw to first base before he reaches the base, the runner is safe. This can be a fairly common occurrence in baseball. If the pitcher throws a sharp breaking curve ball that dives into the dirt as the batter swings, the ball may go past the catcher and to the backstop. In a case like that, the batter should easily get to first because the catcher will have to run a long way just to pick up the ball.
The Run Counts
The third out will end the inning, but there will be circumstances in which a run is scored on the final play and the run will count. For example, if there is a runner on second base and there are two outs, the batter hits a ball to right-center field that drops in for a hit. The runner was off with the crack of the bat and he rounds third base and heads for home. The batter rounds first base after the hit and decides to try to get to second. As he runs toward the base, the other runner heads home. In the matter of less than a second, the runner going home touches the plate and an instant later the batter is tagged out at second. Because the runner scored before the batter was tagged out, the run counts. But the inning is over and the team at bat goes to the field and the team in the field comes in to bat.
The Run Does Not Count
The third out may come after the runner has crossed home plate, but the run does not always count. A batter hits a groundball to shortstop with one out and the bases loaded. The runner on third base runs home and slides across the plate. The shortstop throws to the second baseman for the force play and the second baseman turns and throws to first base for the double play. The runner slid across home plate seconds before the batter was called out at first. Nevertheless, the run does not count. Since the last out was a force play, the run does not count.
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