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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Charles Curtis

The Nationals got burned by an obscure ‘fourth out’ MLB rule that allowed Pirates to score on inning-ending double play

If you read that headline above and were confused, believe me: It’s very understandable.

Because there’s a rule that somehow allowed a Pittsburgh Pirates player to score despite the fact that the Washington Nationals pulled off an inning-ending double play.

Here’s the situation: It was 3-3 in the fifth inning with Pirates on second and third with one out. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a ball that was caught by Josh Bell, who threw to Ehire Adrianza at third base. Adrianza caught it, tagged Hoy Park and that was a double play that ended the inning.

Except … Jack Suwinski had scored from third. And as the Nationals ran off the field, everyone realized that the Pirates were credited with a run.

What? How could someone do that when there was a double play to end the inning?

Welcome to the very obscure “fourth out” rule:

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