A double or triple play is credited to one or more fielders when:

• A. when two or three players are put out on baserunning errors.
• B. when two or three players are put out between the time a pitch is delivered and the time the ball next becomes dead or is next in possession of the pitcher in pitching position.
• C. when two or three players are put out on errors and/or successful appeal.
• D. when two or three players are put out on tag-ups.

Answer: (A)

Two or three outs are credited to the defense only when they’re recorded during one continuous live-ball action—i.e., from the pitch until the ball becomes dead or the pitcher has the ball in pitching position. That one uninterrupted sequence is what makes a double play (two outs) or triple play (three outs) possible.

Think of a typical scenario: a ball in play creates two outs in the same continuous action, such as a grounder that forces a runner, then a throw that gets another runner out at a different base, all before the ball is dead. If outs happen on separate plays or after the ball is dead, they don’t count as a single double or triple play. Tag-ups or errors can be part of that same sequence, but the crucial factor is the outs occurring within that continuous live-ball period.