The Mets' slumping slugger was called for obstructing a runner rounding first base in a three-run first inning and went hitless in three at-bats for New York during a 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

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Later in the game, Carl Crawford struck out looking in the seventh inning of a 1-1 tie with a runner at second base.

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But the rules say a runner in that situation must reach the next base--if he's forced out at second for the third out, the run doesn't count.

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Girardi wanted the hit changed to a ground-rule double, and the runner returned to third base.

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But there have been a number of questionable calls on base running--when it wasn't immediately clear if a player actually tagged the bag or if a runner was tagged or not.

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He believes that a few hard opposite-field singles and the threat of a bunt can force teams to pull their infields back to normal positioning, or could put an important runner on base in situations where a solo home run wouldn't help much down 4-1 in the 8th inning, for example.

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