[greenishness]

“It hit the crease between the wall and the warning track on the fly and came to a dead stop instantly.”

So, all that was required and did happen, he merely went over to it and picked it up. Did not have to pry it out.

Exactly, which is why there is a rule. Because the fielder was forced to "merely went over to it and picked it up" as opposed to play it off the wall with a predictable bounce, the runners were able to advance further.

[odawg]

“...as opposed to play it off the wall with a predictable bounce, the runners were able to advance further.”

Predictable bounce. You must be kidding.