Baseball rules corner: passing a preceding runner on the base paths can be costly.

AN INTERESTING PLAY OCCURRED in the Royals' 4-3 win over the A's last July 6 at Oakland.

With the score tied 3-3, Joe Randa led off the top of the tenth with a single. An out later, Michael Tucker hit a shot that sailed over the fence in dead center, but he passed pinch-runner Mike Caruso between first and second. Caruso thought the ball had been caught by A's center fielder Terrance Long, who made a leaping stab at the hit, and turned back toward first. Tucker was called out on the way to second as he and Caruso passed each other like two trains in the night going in opposite directions.

Rule 7.08(h) declares a runner (Tucker) out for "passing a preceding runner (Caruso) before such runner is out." In such plays, the back runner is always out. This holds true even when a preceding runner runs by a back runner while retreating for some reason which was the case with Caruso and Tucker.

It's probably safe to say that's how most passing runner violations occur.

Tucker lost his home run when he passed Caruso. He was credited with an RBI single, however, when Randa crossed the plate with what proved to be the winning run.

Several players over the years have had home runs nullified because of a similar running faux pas.

On July 4, 1976, the Phillies' Tim McCarver lost a four-bagger on the 200th anniversary of our country when he passed Garry Maddox on first base as Maddox retreated back to first a la Caruso.