I can't find instruction in the official rules on totaling LOB. Specifically, I'm confused about the situation with a runner/runners on and two outs. Suppose the batter hits into a fielder's choice. The putout is made on a preceding runner, and the batter-runner doesn't actually reach first base safely before the third out, so is he left on base? I've seen different scorers total it differently. I thought I knew what to do, and now I'm stumped. Please comment if you can clarify for me. Thanks!
If the batter hits into an inning ending fielders choice he is considered to have "reached" on a fielders choice. Therefore he should be coutned as a runner left on base.
This formula should always balance for any inning:
3 Outs + # of Runs Scored + # of LOB = Total # of batters in an inning.
Every plate appearence eventually results in one of these three things.