MLB Rules for Runner Interference at First Base Explained

Viewers everywhere were left confused when Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was ruled out after a Brad Peacock throw hit him on the rear end. By rule, the ball is still theoretically live, and Turner can keep running.

However, Turner was ruled out because he exited the running lane before he was able to touch first base, stepping between Peacock and first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Due to this, Turner was called out, even though his run to first looked incredibly standard; he was a victim of poor timing.

According to the rulebook, Turner was ruled out after he stepped outside of the three-foot running lane for a reason other than trying to step on first base.

Using this logic, Peacock's throw would have found Gurriel's glove for an out had Turner not sprinted out of the running lane and interfered with the throw (at least, that's the judgment the umpires made in the moment, which is not reviewable).

There is some subjectivity in this decision, however, as a similar play in Game 4 last year was not called.

That consistency isn't even a year-to-year issue, though. It's batter-to-batter.

In the same game, in fact, Jose Altuve left the base path in a manner similar to Turner, but was not called out. The clip below will likely go down as a miss for the umpiring crew.

It's just the quality of the throw. That's it. That's all. It took the poor nature of the throw to call the rule into question. That shouldn't happen.

As confusing, bizarre, and flat-out incorrect as that call appeared in real time, the umpires got this controversial, almost subjective call correct by the letter of the law.