squeeze play


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squeeze play

1. In baseball, a play in which the batter bunts to give a runner on third base a chance to reach home plate and score a run. Primarily heard in US. The botched squeeze play led to the batter and the runner being tagged out. No one was expecting a squeeze play when their star hitter went up to bat.
2. By extension, a situation in which a great deal of pressure is applied to someone or something in order to achieve a certain outcome or goal. With both houses of congress controlled by the opposing political party, the president is now facing a squeeze play regarding the federal budget. The mega corporation is using its vast resources and political influence to initiate a squeeze play against its competition.
See also: play, squeeze

squeeze play

A situation in which pressure exerted to obtain a concession or achieve a goal, as in Workers sometimes feel caught in a squeeze play between union and management. This expression, dating from about 1900, originated in baseball, where it refers to a prearranged play in which the runner on third base breaks for home plate on the pitch, and the batter bunts. [c. 1915]
See also: play, squeeze

squeeze play

n. a special play in baseball where there is a runner on third base and the batter bunts. (With an early start the runner may reach home plate.) They pulled off that squeeze play like the professionals they are.
See also: play, squeeze
References in periodicals archive ?
The plate umpire must be aware of situations when a runner passes another runner, intervening plays, squeeze plays, plus potential four-out innings among other scenarios.
Baseball Rules Corner
But singles by Barnhill and Shannon Bailey in the sixth, combined with a mishandled sacrifice attempt from Candice Miller and Devenney's successful squeeze play to score Chelsea Kelly from third, got Antelope Valley back on track.
CHATTER: A.V. GETS ANOTHER VICTORY
Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued the call Tim Welke made when Jason Varitek dropped the ball after tagging Reggie Willits on Anaheim's failed squeeze play in the ninth, but didn't dispute the point hard enough to get ejected.
Cream of crop in AL East eyeing pennant
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after Nathan Haynes scored on a successful squeeze play by Willits.
ANGELS TAKE ROYAL POUNDING LOSE 2ND STRAIGHT TO AL'S WORST TEAM
ROSEBURG - Salem scored a run on a squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Springfield Titans 4-3 for fourth place at the Doc Stewart's American Legion baseball tournament on Sunday.
Oregon Reign qualify for national tourney
Clinton led 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when an error on a squeeze play allowed Chieftain Alex Pirez to score, tying the game at 4.
Clinton freshmen edge Chieftains
He was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but an attempted two-strike squeeze play failed and the Rau got out of the jam to send the game to extra innings.
BASEBALL: CAMARILLO GOING EXTRA MILE SCORPIONS, VISTA MURRIETA SCORELESS AFTER 8 INNINGS CAMARILLO VS. VISTA MURRIETA, LATE
On the squeeze play, we called for a pitchout but we missed on that," Silvestri said.
Tech can't muster any support for Collins
An error gave the Panthers runners on the corners with one out, but a botched squeeze play helped Montgomery record his second save of the season.
BASEBALL: BAUER HELPS HART STUN NEWBURY PARK HART 2, NEWBURY PARK 1
West Boylston loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out for Blake Perron, but Perron was unable to connect on a bunt when the Lions had the squeeze play on and Parker was tagged out at the plate.
Schultz, Shivo provide Ayer lift
The Rockies added an insurance run after Matt Holliday broke off third on an apparent busted squeeze play.
L.A. WINNING STREAK IS PUT ON THE ROCKS COLORADO'S LATE RALLY ENDS DODGERS' RUN AT 11 GAMES COLORADO 3, DODGERS 1
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