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I think Delaware Blue got it right: the batter was out on strike three, and what happens to the ball afterward can affect only other runners.
Seems to me the harder case might be where the batter DOES become a runner on a dropped strike three, and the ball lodges in umpire equipment. One might wonder whether awarding BR first is penalizing the defense, since probably the majority of BR's are retired on this play.
Still, it probably is the right way to go with the award: after all, the defense made the first mistake in dropping strike three. Once the ball is lodged, BR has to go somewhere (1B or the bench), and even though he struck out it doesn't seem right to nullify his opportunity to reach first. HE didn't drop the pitch.
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Cheers,
mb
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