What is the ruling when F9 traps the ball, believing he caught it, and throws wildly into dead-ball territory while R1 is on first base?

In this scenario, the key points revolve around the implications of a trapped ball and the subsequent actions taken by the fielders. When F9 traps the ball, it is considered a play that did not result in a legal catch. As a result, since the ball is deemed to be live, actions taken after the trap may lead to different rulings regarding base advancement.

The answer indicates that R1 is awarded second base and B3 is awarded third base. This is consistent with the rule that when a fielder misplays a ball (in this case, by throwing it out of play after trapping it), the runners can advance an appropriate number of bases. R1, who was on first base, is granted two bases because they are allowed to advance based on the location of the ball and the initial position they occupied. For B3, who is at bat when F9 traps the ball, they are also awarded the opportunity to advance due to the same rule.

The special circumstance of the wild throw into dead-ball territory means the umpires interpret the situation as a fair advancement rule due to the play not being treated as a legal out. This allows for both runners to take the bases that correspond logically to their positions relative to the current status of