Winning Pitcher

quote:

Originally posted by NCBlue:
High school baseball

Pitcher A starts the game for the viiting team and pitches 4 innings. Score is tied 3-3 after four innings.

Visiting team takes the lead 5-3 in the top of the 5th. Pitcher B starts on the mound in the bottom of the 5th and pitches the 5th, 6th and 7th innings.

Final score is visitors 6. Home 3.

In this scenario who gets the victory. Pitcher A or B ?

The trick is to find out who the pitcher of record was when the team that won took the lead. In your scenario, the visitor’s starter, Pitcher A, was still the pitcher of record in the top of the 5th. Pitcher B didn’t become the pitcher of record until he threw a pitch in the bottom of the 5th. Since the home team never tied the game or went ahead after that, Pitcher A gets the win.

Its just a matter of timing, so remember, a pitcher hasn’t been replaced as the pitcher of record until another pitcher has taken his place on the pitcher’s plate.

Stats is correct here and there are several nuiances related to this rule.

My son tonight was clearly done after four innings (home team) but he completed the top of the fourth down 5-3. The home team scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth in an inning in which my son batted and was run for as the pitcher.

He actually started the fifth inning pitching but assuming he didn't, he was the pitcher of record when his team took the lead for good, he pitched four innings in a seven inning game, so he gets the win.

Had the other team come back and taken the lead at any point or the rally had occured after he left with the other team ahead, you have to give the win to the reliever who was pitching when his team took the lead for good.

If the starter leaves before four innings, he is not credited with a win if his team is ahead and never gives up the lead. The win will go the reliever determined by the offical scorer to be the most effective. If a tie happens, you revert back to the pitcher of record at the time the winning team took the lead for good.

I'm not quoting FED or OBR rules tonight. Both my kids won their varsity games but didn't pitch exceptionally well (son in baseball, daughter in softball) I should be happy but I just want to go to bed and sleep it all off.