I was playing the board game "Rules of the Game," and was sure I knew the answer to this one....but didn't (unless the game's answer was incorrect).

Play: With two outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd, and a 3-2 count on the batter, the batter swings and misses. The ball is completely missed by the catcher and sticks in the umpire's mask. The base runners both score and the batter makes second, before the ball can be dislodged.

What's the appropriate ruling?

I said what I thought, but was wrong!! I looked up the rule, and it supports what I say (I'll tell you that later). I hope the board game is wrong this time. Last time it was me!

It is a lodged ball. It is dead immediately. Because it was the pitch, the batter and all runners are awarded only one base. The batter to first, R2 to third, and R3 scores, and still two outs.

If the answer in the game was any different, I'd have no explanation.

Wade:<p>Jim Porter gave you the answer, which you found at 7.05(i).

The National Federation rule is not quite as clear on the "ball four lodged pitch" as OBR. Sometimes, unrained umpires have wanted to award the batter first on ball four and second on a pitch going out of play.

That's wrong, of course. But the OBR language, for a change, is so clear, I can't imagine how the game developers went wrong.

Actually, Papa C, it was an uncaught third strike lodged ball.

Jim:<p>Yes, the "trick question" deals with a lodged "third strike." The OBR also mentions "a lodged fourth ball."

But in the FED, they aren't so clear ....

Oh, I see.