# Strange play in yesterday's Cubs game--how was it scored?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [August 21, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276 "2017-08-21T13:48:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/1 "2017-08-21T13:48:02Z")
During the Cubs’ 10th-inning rally against Toronto yesterday, there was a play I’ve never seen before. Javier Baez struck out swinging on a pitch in the dirt, but he made it to first base because the Toronto catcher failed to throw to first base in time.
Certainly, I’ve seen this happen many times where a batter strikes out but reaches first base on a dropped third strike. What was strange about yesterday’s play was that it was not ruled a wild pitch nor a passed ball. The ball didn’t trickle away that far from the catcher after he failed to catch it. However, he was so focused on preventing the man on third base from scoring, he forgot to throw to first base in time. It was also not ruled an error on the catcher.
How would the official scorer have ruled the play? The box scores aren’t providing much insight. My best guess is fielder’s choice.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/2 "2017-08-21T14:00:54Z")
[Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201708200.shtml):
> [@](#):
>
> Strikeout Swinging; Baez to 1B
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### Author:  [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/3 "2017-08-21T20:42:11Z")
It’s scored as a strike out for the pitcher. Runner reached first on fielder’s choice. Similarly to scoring a fielder’s choice, for example, if there’d been a ground ball to the short stop who’d look the runner back then the throw to first was late.
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### Author:  [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/4 "2017-08-21T21:25:43Z")
> [@OldGuy](#):
>
> It’s scored as a strike out for the pitcher. Runner reached first on fielder’s choice. Similarly to scoring a fielder’s choice, for example, if there’d been a ground ball to the short stop who’d look the runner back then the throw to first was late.
Thanks! In my OP, fielder’s choice was my guess. I was unable to find the ruling in the play-by-play accounts of the game, though. As **Skywatcher** said, the accounts just say that Baez struck out but reached first. No other explanation for HOW he reached first.
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### Author:  [@JustSomeDude3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustSomeDude3)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2017, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/5 "2017-08-22T09:30:04Z")
The OS blew this call. It was originally ruled that Javy reached on a K+FC but was quickly overturned to the correct call, K+WP. Anytime the batter reaches first after striking out, there must be either a WP or PB on the play unless another runner is putout.
> **[MLB Scoring Changes | MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/official-information/scoring-changes)**
>
> The Official Site of Major League Baseball
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### Author:  [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-play-in-yesterdays-cubs-game-how-was-it-scored/794276/6 "2017-08-22T12:48:24Z")
> [@JustSomeDude3](#):
>
> The OS blew this call. It was originally ruled that Javy reached on a K+FC but was quickly overturned to the correct call, K+WP. Anytime the batter reaches first after striking out, there must be either a WP or PB on the play unless another runner is putout.
>
> [MLB.com | The Official Site of Major League Baseball](http://m.mlb.com/promo/scoring-changes)
Cool! The link in **Skywatcher** ’s post also now has the correct ruling of a wild pitch.