A rundown, also called a pickle or a hotbox, is a situation in the game of baseball that occurs when the baserunner is stranded between two bases and is in jeopardy. When the baserunner attempts to advance to the next base, he is cut off by the defensive player who has a live ball and attempts to return to his previous base before being tagged out. As he is doing this, the defenseman throws the ball past the baserunner to the previous base, forcing him to reverse directions again.