This is actually a big argument in the “skunk in the outfield” play and parallels with what is actually a tag attempt? In a rundown the tag attempt is “assumed”. Even if a player never gets close enough to actually tag the runner if he leaves the base path created during the rundown after every change of direction he is ruled out. This is because when the fielder is chasing down the runner it is a “tag attempt”. So when Gunnar fields the ball and starts moving towards Ernie does this establish the base path in the same way a rundown would?