How is a run scored in baseball?
B · Beginner · The game · 5 of 5A run is scored each time a runner touches first, second, third and home, in that order, before three are out. A run does not count if it crosses the plate on a play where the third out is a force out, or is the batter being put out before reaching first base.
How it works
- The rule: one run "each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home plate before three men are put out".
- In order: each base must be touched, in order.
- Home run: a fair ball out of the field in flight lets the batter and every runner score, provided they touch every base.
- Third out by force: no run counts on a play where the third out is a force out.
- Third out at first: no run counts where the batter is put out before touching first base.
- A missed base: no run counts if the third out is a preceding runner called out on appeal for missing a base.
- A time play: where the third out is a tag that is not a force, a run that crossed the plate before the tag counts.
- Cannot be undone: a run legally scored is not cancelled by what the runner does afterwards.
- The winning run: on a bases-loaded walk to end a game, the runner from third must touch home and the batter must touch first.
The glossary has the run, the home run, the home plate, the force out, the appeal play and the RBI.
Tricky cases
Two out, runner on third. The batter grounds out at first, but the runner crossed the plate before the throw arrived. Does the run count?
No. No run scores on a play where the batter makes the third out before touching first base.
Two out, runners on second and third. A hit scores the runner from third, and the runner from second is tagged out at home. Does the first run count?
Yes, if it crossed the plate before the tag. It was a tag play, not a force.
The batter hits a home run over the fence but misses first base and is called out on appeal for the third out. Do the runs count?
No. The batter made the third out before touching first base.
One out. A runner scores on a sacrifice fly, and another runner is then thrown out returning to first for the third out. Does the run count?
Yes, if the run scored before that out. It was not a force play.
Why the rule exists
Scoring is a circuit, not a single act, and the rule protects each step of it. The force-out exception is the important one: a team that cannot get its batter safely to first, or its forced runners to their bases, has not earned anything on that play, however fast another runner got home.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Third out is a force out | No run on the play | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.8.1 |
| Third out is a tag, not a force | Runs that crossed first count | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.8.1 examples |
| Third out on appeal against a preceding runner | Following runners do not score | WBSC Baseball Rule 11.2 |
| Fewer than two out | A preceding runner's miss does not affect those behind | WBSC Baseball Rule 11.2 |
From the rule book
World Baseball Softball Confederation, Official Rules of Baseball (2025-2026 edition), Rules 1.3, 6.70, 10.1, 10.8 and 11.2. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026 (PDF).