Bunt Single

The batter lays down a bunt. By the time a fielder gets to the ball, the only play they have is to try for the runner on first. They pick up the ball, and fire to first base. This type of play is always a force play, so all the runner has to do is beat the ball to the base, and they will be safe. Here, specifically, it helps to be really, really fast.

One unique aspect about a play at first base— unlike the other bases, where the runner needs to stay on the base or risk being tagged out, a runner running to first can safely run through the bag and down the line. As long as that runner doesn’t make a move towards second base, they can decelerate safely and return to the base once the play is over. If they so much as flinch in the direction of second base, though, the defense can make a play on them.

Once the runner has been called safe, the play is still nominally live; if one of the other runners decides to wander off their new base, the defense can always try to tag that runner out. However, this pretty much never happens, unless the runner suddenly suffers a bout of transient global amnesia and forgets everything they know about baseball.

Once the play is over, the runners return to their new bases, and everyone gets ready for the next plate appearance.