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PLAY: Fed only. R3. The runner is moving on the pitch; B1 squares around to attempt a suicide squeeze. The catcher jumps in front of the plate to grab the pitch and tag R3, who maliciously contacts F2.
Ruling: The outcome of the play is not relevant. F2 is guilty of obstruction. But since the "malicious crash" rule supersedes the "catcher's-obstruction rule": R3 is out and ejected. B1 remains at the plate.
Question: What about the pitch?
Answer: No pitch: It was a dead ball -- retroactively because the batter could not hit the pitch. (6-1-4)
A story follows and after the story it says: Remember, though, if R3 scored before the malicious crash, his run would have counted.
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