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Originally Posted by Dave Hensley
The ruling is that since the first baseman had to dive for the ball, and he missed, then the ball was not within his immediate reach, and therefore the play does not satisfy the exception to the runner interference rule. Had the ball passed through the legs of, or within the immediate reach of the first baseman, and then hit the runner immediately back of him, then and only then would the ball remain alive.
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Following up on Dave -- passed the infielder for purposes of this rule means the ball must be within a step and a reach of the fielder making the play. A diving fielder missing is not within a step and a reach, so the runner is expected to avoid contact with the fair batted ball.
The purpose of the rule is to protect a runner when there is no chance he can avoid the ball because he is screened by a nearby fielder.