Baseball Scoring - RBI Scenario

Question
Scenario:

Runner on 3rd base, zero outs.  Batter hits a medium speed grounder to the third baseman, who is playing at medium depth.  Upon the 3rd baseman fielding the ball, the runner freezes and awaits the decision of the fielder.  The 3rd baseman throws across the diamond to record the out at 1st base successfully, and simultaneously the runner breaks from 3rd towards home.  The first baseman throws from first to home, but the throw is not in time to catch the runner.

One party evaluated the batter as being awarded an RBI via infield out per 10.04(a)(1).
(a) The official scorer shall credit the batter with a run batted in for every run that scores:

(1)unaided by an error and as part of a play begun by the batter's safe hit (including the batter's home run), sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, infield out or fielder's choice,unless Rule 10.04(b) applies;


The other party wants to invoke 10.04(c) which states:
(c) The official scorer's judgment must determine whether a run batted in shall be credited for a run that scores when a fielder holds the ball or throws to a wrong base. Ordinarily, if the runner keeps going, the official scorer should credit a run batted in; if the runner stops and takes off again when the runner notices the misplay, the official scorer should credit the run as scored on a fielder's choice.

It is my evaluation that 10.04(c) does not apply, since at no point in the above scenario was there a held ball with no play made, and at no point was there a misplay or throw to a wrong base.  

Thanks!

Matthew D. Vorwald


Answer
Matthew,

This is clearly an RBI and a fielder's choice.  I've never seen this type of play scored without giving an RBI to the hitter.

If the first baseman missed the throw or dropped the ball after making the out at first, which then caused the runner to go home, then that would be a different story.

Hope this helps!

Brian