Retired Batter Advances

2) R1 on third, R2 on second, R3 on first. There is less than two outs. 2 Strikes on the batter B1. B1 swings and misses and the ball is not caught by F2. B1 is out as first base is occupied with less than 2 outs. B1 proceeds to advance to first drawing a throw from F2. In turn R1 advance home without a play.

I have read the case book on this but wanted to ask about a different interpretation.

Case book say

SITUATION B: With less than two outs R1 on first base, F2 does not catch B2’s third strike. B2 begins
running to first base, F2 attempts to throw B2 out and overthrows F3.
RULING: As soon as B2 starts to run to first, the umpire shall announce that B2 is out (because of the
third strike and first base being occupied). The ball remains live. (7-14-D)

D. A third strike (in flight) is not caught, provided a runner occupies first base at the time
of the pitch and there are less than two outs.
NOTE: If there are two outs or if no runner occupies first base, the batter is not out
unless the third strike is caught. The batter is entitled to try to reach first base before
being tagged out or thrown out.

Here is my contention: Looking at the following rules.

8-4-B note

Sec 4. A batter becomes a batter runner with the right to attempt to score by advancing to
first, second and third and then home plate in the listed order when:
A. Hitting a fair ball.
NOTE: Batter becomes a runner when entitled to run.
B. Charged with a third strike.
NOTE: if a third strike is caught, the batter is out an instant after becoming a runner.

Rule 8 Sec 18 H notes 3:

H. Being put out is prevented by an illegal act by anyone connected with the team.
NOTE 1: If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner interferes in any way and
prevents a double play anywhere, two shall be declared out (the runner who
interferes and the runner closest to home).
NOTE 2: If a retired runner interferes and, in the judgment of the Umpire, another
runner could have been put out, the Umpire shall declare the runner closest to home
out.
NOTE 3: If the batter-runner interferes, the Umpire shall call the batter-runner and the
runner who has advanced the nearest to home base out.

IN looking at these rules I could rule:

B1 out on called third strike.
R1 out for batter-runner interferes.

Thank you for your consideration of these rule interpretations.



RESPONSE
Bases loaded less than 2 outs Batter strikes out and catcher drops ball. Batter is out. In general, there would be no interference on the retired batter. The ball would remain alive. The runners can advance with liability to be put out.

Our rules interpretations are based on the principal that all players, both offense and defense, should be aware of the situation. Therefore it is the catcher's responsibility to know the batter has been retired.
As described, I would score the R1’s run.

If this was an obvious and/or repetitive deceptive act on the part of the offense team, it could be ruled unsportsmanlike. This would result in an initial warning and returning the runner to third. Subsequent acts would be cause for ejection.