"Hitting Behind the Runner. When a batter is hitting behind the runner, he is hitting the ball to the right side of the field, which is behind a runner who is going from first to second base. If the ball is hit behind the runner and the ball goes into the outfield, the runner has a good chance to reach third base because the right fielder has a long throw to make. If a ball is hit in front of the runner into left field, the runner is less likely to go to third, because the throw to third for the left fielder is fairly short."