Runner Interference Rule Question

Question
Hello Dr. Ambrose,

I'm hoping that you can help provide clarification on a runner interference play that occured during a tournament game in the Phillippines this past weekend.  

Situation: 1 out, runner at 1st base. Batter hits the ball to the SS who throws the ball to the 2nd baseman.  The 2B turns to thow the ball to first for the double play and hits the runner (moving from 1b to 2b) in the gut.  The umpire calls out the runner at 1B (thus completing the double play) because he says the runner did not get out of the way of the throw.  Our runner was a 300+ lb man who was not trying to impede the throw, he just didn't get down the line far enough to slide in time.  

I feel that this is an incorrect case of the runner interference rule being applied as I thought that this only pertains to a batted ball, NOT one that was thrown to another fielder.  Can you please help clarify.  

Thank you very much.  

Answer
Hi Preston,

Interference is the act of an offensive player that impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play.  A defensive player must be allowed the opportunity to field or throw the ball anywhere on the playing field

An offensive player must vacate any space needed by the defensive player to execute a play.  In this case R1 MUST move out of the way to allow the throw.

"Our runner was a 300+ lb man who was not trying to impede the throw, he just didn't get down the line far enough to slide in time."
Intention (and/or size) doesn't matter and this is interference.  The call was absolutely correct.

BTW had you had R1 on 3rd and R2 on 1st and this situation happened, because R2 was already out when they interfered, the runner closest to home would also be out, in this case R1 and we would award the b-r 1st base if there were any outs left.

thanks for the question
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