force play

American  

[fawrs pley] / ˈfɔrs ˌpleɪ /

noun

Baseball.

1. a defensive play in which the fielder holding the ball can make a putout by stepping on, or otherwise touching, the base that a runner is heading toward, having been forced to advance to that base because of a batter’s base hit.

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Etymology

Origin of force play

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

In the 10th, Treinen gave up a run when Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, stole second base, stole third base and scored on a force play.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2024

The next batter, Steve Garvey, hit a shot to almost the same place, but Nettles grabbed it and threw to second for the force play and third out.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2024

Adam Frazier tied it by grounding into a force play, but Civale then escaped the inning when Rutschman grounded into a double play on the first pitch.

From Washington Times • Sep. 14, 2023

Heavy rain caused sufficient delays to force play into a fifth day in Dubai.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2023

Throw it here!” yelled Collins, and Doyle, thinking that they were trying for a force play, increased his efforts to reach second.

From Pitching in a Pinch or, Baseball from the Inside by Mathewson, Christy