Does the run count?

[Brookji]

Does the run count? Bases loaded, 2 outs. Batter hits a ground ball to 3rd base. The runner on 2nd going to 3rd stops halfway to 3rd and waits to be tagged by the 3rd baseman. Before the tag is made, the runner previously on 3rd touches home. Does the run count? The way I read the rule is the run would not count if the 3rd baseman touches 3rd base because that’s a force out but what happens now that the 3rd baseman tags the runner. He didn’t take the force out, he tagged him which is different than a force out. Had this been the hitter running to 1st and he got tagged out I could see the run not counting, but it being another runner I think the run should count because the fielder did not take the force. 

[love to ump]

the runner was" forced."...he was retired before reaching his next base, the run does not count

[JonnyCat]

Yes, it's a force play whether the fielder touches the bag or tags the runner. No run scores.

The status of the force play in this situations does not change because the fielder tagged the runner.

[Coach Carl]

From the the rule book (Major League rules - "OBR"):

The term FORCE PLAY is found in the Definitions of Terms section:

A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner.

The rules define how a runner may be put out and in one of the sections, we find the force play and it specifically says that the runner or the base may be tagged to get the force out:

5.09(b) Retiring a runner:

Any runner is out when:

(6)  He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner.  However, if a following runner is put out on a force play, the force is removed and the runner must be tagged to be put out. The force is removed as soon as the runner touches the base to which he is forced to advance, and if he overslides or overruns the base, the runner must be tagged to be put out. However, if the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced;

[beerguy55]

16 hours ago, Brookji said:

The way I read the rule is the run would not count if the 3rd baseman touches 3rd base because that’s a force out but what happens now that the 3rd baseman tags the runner.

The way I try to explain it to younger players and coaches (and their parents) is "force" is NOT how you put the runner out...it is a status placed on the runner.   As stated above, the runner on second is forced, because the runner on first is forced, because the batter is now a runner.  If the batter or R1 is put out, then R2 is no longer forced.  Otherwise, if R2 is put out in ANY method while he is forced, it is a force play.

[flyingron]

Beerguy is right.   It's a common misconception that also leads people to believe appeals are force plays because they're also performed by touching the base (and that you can't appeal by touching the runner either).