Force Out
FOAn out where a runner is required to advance and is retired simply by a fielder touching the base before they arrive.
A force out happens when a runner is forced to advance because the batter became a runner and the bases behind are occupied. On a force, the defense only needs to touch the base with the ball before the runner gets there; no tag is required.
The force rules cascade from home plate out: the batter is always forced to first; a runner on first is forced to second whenever the batter is forced to first; a runner on second is forced to third only if first is also occupied; a runner on third is forced home only if first and second are both occupied.
The instant a force out is recorded, the force is removed for any trailing runner. After that, an out at that base requires a tag, not just touching the bag. Knowing who is forced is what tells a scorer (and the app) whether a given out was a force out or a tag out.
Bleacher Notes computes the force state from the runners on base before the play, so it can tell a force out from a tag out and credit the putout to the right fielder.
What is the difference between a force out and a tag out?
On a force out the runner must advance, so the defense only has to touch the base before the runner arrives. On a tag out the runner is not forced, so a fielder must physically tag the runner with the ball.
Let the scorebook keep itself.
Bleacher Notes scores every play from a single spoken sentence, applying these rules for you. In beta now, free for parents.