An unusual fourth-out rule gave the Boston Red Sox a seventh-inning run after a 16-minute delay, turning an apparent inning-ending play into the decisive rules question of Toronto’s 2-1 victory. Boston’s runner crossed home before the Blue Jays completed a non-force out at first, allowing the run to count.

What happened

Boston had runners at the corners when a flyout was followed by a throw to first for the apparent third out. The runner from third crossed the plate before the out was recorded at first, creating a timing-play situation rather than a force play.

Because the third out at first was not a force out, the run could score if the runner touched home before that out was completed. After the 16-minute delay, Boston received the run, cutting Toronto’s advantage in a game the Blue Jays ultimately won 2-1.

Why it matters

Baseball’s fourth-out rule allows a defense to select a more advantageous appeal out even after three outs have apparently been recorded. If Toronto had appealed at third and secured that out, it could have replaced the out at first as the inning’s final out and erased Boston’s run.

The Blue Jays instead left the field without making the appeal at third. Once they did so, they lost the chance to use the fourth-out provision, leaving the timing of the run and the non-force out at first to determine whether Boston scored.

The sequence underscores the distinction between a force out and a timing play. A run cannot score when the third out is a force out, but it can count before a non-force third out unless the defense properly records a different, advantageous appeal out.

By the numbers

The defeat dropped Boston to 64-54. The Red Sox remained seven games above .500 despite coming up one run short in Toronto.

The Blue Jays improved to 57-63 with the victory. Toronto preserved the 2-1 result even after its failure to appeal at third allowed Boston’s seventh-inning run to stand.

What to watch next

The four-game series continues Tuesday in Toronto. Boston will look to respond after the unusual scoring sequence, while the Blue Jays will try to build on a narrow win that survived their missed opportunity to erase the run.