Interference - placement of other runner

[UmpJM]

David,

As Bob J. and Ozzy have pointed out, in your sitch the R2 is returned to 2B under OBR rules. This is spelled out in the 7.08(b) Comment:

....If, in a run-down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has advanced and is standing on third base when the runner in a run-down is called out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing on third base back to second base. This same principle applies if there is a run-down between second and third base and succeeding runner has reached second (the reasoning is that no runner shall advance on an interference play and a runner is considered to occupy a base until he legally has reached the next succeeding base).

So, in addition to Ozzy's cite of the "...no runner may advance..." principle, there is also the principle of "legal occupation of a base".

For some unknown reason, FED introduced the following situation contradicting the OBR principles in their 2010 website interps:

SITUATION 13: R1 is on third and R2 is on second with no outs. Both runners attempt a double steal. As R1 gets into a rundown between home and third, R2 advances and stays on third base. With R2 on third base, R1 commits interference during the rundown. RULING: The ball is dead immediately. R1 is declared out for the interference. R2 will be kept at third base since he had legally reached third at the time of the interference. (8-2-9, 8-2-8).

By my read, this interp also contradicts what FED 8-2-9 & 8-2-8 say regarding legal occupation of a base under FED rules. But I'm guessing this interp is why Bob pointed out the FED difference on your sitch.

JM