Editing Sacrifice fly (section)

== Rules ==

As addressed within Rule 9.02(a)(1) of the Official Baseball Rules<ref name="MLB Rules"/> a sacrifice fly is not counted as a time [[at bat]] for the batter, though the batter is credited with a [[run batted in]]. The same is true with a [[Bases loaded|bases-loaded]] [[Base on balls|walk]] or [[hit by pitch]].

The purpose of not counting a sacrifice fly as an at-bat is to avoid penalizing hitters for a successful action. The sacrifice fly is one of two instances in baseball where a batter is not charged with a time at bat after putting a ball in play; the other is the [[sacrifice hit]] (also known as a sacrifice bunt). But, while a sacrifice fly does not affect a player's [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], it counts as a [[plate appearance]] and lowers the [[on-base percentage]]. A player on a [[hitting streak]] will have it end with no official at-bats but a sacrifice fly.

Unlike a sacrifice bunt, which may be scored if a runner advances from any base to any base, a sacrifice fly is credited only if a runner scores on the play.  Therefore, when a runner on first or second base [[Tag up|tags]] on a fly ball and advances no further than third base, no sacrifice is given, and the batter is charged with an at-bat. Also, if a runner tags and advances from second base (or, theoretically, from first base) all the way to home and scores (without an intervening error), the batter is credited with a sacrifice fly, as well as with a second RBI if a runner on third also scores. At the professional level this will typically occur only in unusual circumstances that prevent the defense from making an immediate throw back to the infield, such as an outfielder colliding with the wall while making a catch on the warning track or a fly ball caught at the deepest part of the yard. It can also happen if two very fast baserunners occupy 2nd and 3rd base, such as when [[Willie McGee]] and [[Ozzie Smith]] scored on [[Tom Herr]]'s sacrifice fly in the [[1982 World Series]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er16052Q1VQ | title=Smith scores 2nd run on Herr's sac fly in 1982 WS Gm4 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=18 October 2018 }}</ref>

The sacrifice fly is credited even if another runner is put out, so long as the run scores.  The sacrifice fly is credited on a dropped ball even if another runner is forced out by reason of the batter becoming a runner.