Guides · Sacrifices
Sacrifice fly
A fly ball is caught, a runner tags and scores. That’s a sacrifice fly, and it matters to the batter: it’s not an at-bat, so it doesn’t hurt his average, and he gets an RBI.
All four have to be true
Score a sacrifice fly when (Rule 9.08(d)):
- There are fewer than two outs before the play.
- The batter hits a fly ball or a line drive.
- An outfielder catches it, or an infielder running into the outfield, in fair or foul territory.
- A runner scores after the catch.
A runner who tags and moves from second to third doesn’t make it a sacrifice fly. Only a run does.
The dropped-ball case
If the fielder drops the fly and a runner scores, it’s still a sacrifice fly if the scorer judges the runner would have scored after a catch (Rule 9.08(d)). It counts even if the drop leads to another runner being forced out. Charge the error, too.
Not a sacrifice fly
- Two outs. A catch ends the inning; no run can score.
- An infielder catches it on the infield. A pop-up to the shortstop on the edge of the grass with a runner tagging from third is a popout, even if the run scores.
- Nobody scores. It’s a flyout, F plus the fielder.
How to score it
- SF8
- Sacrifice fly to the center fielder. Some books write F8 with SF beside it.
- At-bat
- None. A sacrifice fly isn’t charged as a time at bat (Rule 9.02(a)(1)).
- RBI
- Yes, for the run that scored (Rule 9.04).
Examples
Routine
Runner on third, one out. Fly ball to medium right, caught, runner tags and scores. SF9. RBI, no at-bat.
Two outs
Runner on third, two outs. Same fly ball, caught. F9. Third out; nothing scores.
Line drive, run scores on a throw home
Runners on first and third, nobody out. Line drive caught by the left fielder, runner tags and scores, and the throw home lets the runner from first take second. SF7 for the batter. The runner from first advances on the throw (FC).
Dropped
Runner on third, one out. Routine fly to center, the center fielder drops it, the runner scores easily. SF8 and E8. The run would have scored after a catch.
Rules cited are from MLB’s Official Baseball Rules: Rule 9.02(a)(1), Rule 9.04, and Rule 9.08(d). Your league’s rulebook governs your games.