Question: Why would a batter perform a sacrifice bunt in baseball?
About the article "Baseball", section "Batting and baserunning tactics".

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A batter may also bunt for a base hit.
This is not a sacrifice play, because the batter is trying to reach base safely, without any intention of advancing a runner.
A batter may try to bunt for a base hit while there are runners on base.
In this case, if the runner advances and the batter is thrown out, and if the official scorer judges that the intention of the batter was to bunt for a base hit, then the batter will not receive credit for a sacrifice bunt.
A batter bunting for a base hit will often hold back his bunt while the pitcher begins delivering the ball, in order to surprise the fielders.
If successful, the bunt is scored as a hit single.
Rarely does a bunt result in an extra base hit (double, triple or home run).
Often when attempting to bunt for a base hit, the batter will begin running as he is bunting the ball.
This is called a drag bunt.
Left-handed batters perform this more often than right-handed hitters, because their stance in the batter's box is closer to first base, and they do not need to run across home plate, where the ball will be pitched, as they bunt.
The action of squaring to bunt is compromised during a drag bunt, as the feet are not set.
Players sometimes get one hand up the barrel, and other times bunt with both hands at the base of the bat.
There have been instances of one-handed drag bunts as well; in MLB, Rafael Furcal has been known to try such a bunt. 
 To deliberately bat the ball weakly to a particular spot on the infield by holding the bat nearly still and letting the ball hit it.
Typically, a bunt is used to advance other runners and is then referred to as a sacrifice or a sacrifice hit or a sacrifice bunt.
When done correctly, fielders have no play except, at best, to throw the batter-runner out at first base.
Speedy runners also bunt for base hits when infielders are playing back.
In such a situation, left-handed hitters may use a drag bunt, in which they start stepping towards first base while completing the bunt swing.
Even the great slugger Mickey Mantle would drag bunt once in a while, taking advantage of his 3.1 second speed from home to first base.
Currently, Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals is notable in that he is a right-handed hitter who uses drag bunts successfully.  
Sacrifice bunt.
In a sacrifice bunt, the batter will put the ball into play with the intention of advancing a baserunner, in exchange for the batter being thrown out.
The sacrifice bunt is most often used to advance a runner from first to second base, although the runner may also be advanced from second to third base, or from third to home.
The sacrifice bunt is most often used in close, low-scoring games, and it is usually performed by weaker hitters, especially by pitchers in games played in National League parks.
A sacrifice bunt is not counted as an at-bat.
In general, when sacrifice bunting, a batter will square to bunt well before the pitcher releases the ball.
The squeeze play occurs when the batter sacrifices with the purpose of scoring a runner from third base.
In the suicide squeeze, it is integral that the batter bunt the ball, or the runner—who is running towards home with the pitch—will likely be tagged out easily.
Due to the high-risk nature of this play, it is not often executed, but can often be an exciting moment within the game.
If a runner scores in a squeeze play, the batter may be credited with an RBI. 
 A sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit or simply a "sacrifice") is the act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base, while the batter is himself put out.
If the sacrifice is successful, the batter is not charged with an at bat (AB).
But he is credited with an SAC or S or SH.  
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit) is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball, before there are two outs, in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base.
The batter is almost always sacrificed (and to a certain degree that is the intent of the batter) but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice.
Sometimes the batter may safely reach base by simply outrunning the throw to first; this is not scored as a sacrifice bunt but rather a single.
The most opportune situations for sacrifice bunts occur when a runner is on first base, or runners are on both first and second base.
The runners try to advance as soon as they see the ball bunted.
A properly executed sacrifice bunt in this scenario would put the ball up the first base line with a runner on first, or down the third base line with runners at first and second.
This avoids a double play and results in the runner(s) advancing to second (and third) base, "in scoring position".
A successful sacrifice bunt does not count as an at bat, and does not impact a player's batting average; it does count as a plate appearance.
However, unlike a sacrifice fly, a sacrifice bunt does not count against a player in determining on-base percentage.
However, if the official scorer believes that the batter was attempting to bunt for a base hit, and not solely to advance the runners, the batter is not credited with a sacrifice bunt, and is charged an at bat.
In leagues without a designated hitter, sacrifice bunts are most commonly attempted by pitchers, who are typically not productive hitters.
Managers consider that if a pitcher's at bat will probably result in an out, they might as well go out in a way most likely to advance the runners.
Some leadoff hitters also bunt frequently in similar situations and may be credited with a sacrifice, but as they are often highly skilled bunters and faster runners, they are often trying to get on base as well as advance runners.
A sacrifice bunt attempted while a runner is on third is called a squeeze play.
A sacrifice bunt attempted while a runner on third is attempting to steal home is called a suicide squeeze.
Although a sacrifice bunt is not the same as a sacrifice fly, both fell under the same statistical category until 1954.
In scoring, a sacrifice bunt may be denoted by SH, S, or occasionally, SAC.