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My first reaction to the question was yes, an implied timeout and the "umpire tending to duties" would seem to support this. But, the runner should have the right to take advantage of a "lead" and the inattentive defense. So it is a question, but I would go with my initial implied timeout thought and return the runner, as the advantage was not really the defense but the need for the umpire to resolve a call.
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Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
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