MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings, (added 3/2011) or 10 runs or more at the end of the 4th inning, or at the end of any inning thereafter, the game shall be over.
MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings, (added 3/2011) or 10 runs or more at the end of the 4th inning, or at the end of any inning thereafter, the game shall be over.
4-2-2 The game ends when the team behind in score has completed its turn at bat in the seventh inning, or any inning thereafter if extra innings are necessary. If the home team scores a go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, or in any extra inning, the game is terminated at that point.
In the case of a nine-inning game, if your team (or opponent) is winning by 10 runs after seven innings (or after the top of the sixth if you are the home team) the game ends. The Mercy Rule is in play after five innings (or after the top of the fourth if you are the home team) if your team is ahead by ten runs.
After a batted ball has been touched (deflected) by an infielder, if the ball then strikes a runner (unintentionally on the part of the runner), it is alive and in play despite the fact that another infielder may be in position to field the ball.
There is no mercy rule in MLB, not even the usual 10 run rule!
A mercy rule may be in use, which terminates play when one team is ahead by 10 or more runs after seven innings (6½ innings if the home team is winning). In games that are scheduled for seven innings the rule takes effect in the fifth. This rule is not used in NCAA tournament games.
Wins and losses are based on the score, not on whether or not the runs are earned or not. If the pitcher’s team loses the game they cannot get a win, even if they gave up fewer earned runs than their team scored. Show activity on this post. The fact that a run is “unearned” does not affect win-loss tallies.
If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather, the results are considered final if the home team is leading. If the home team is trailing, the results are considered final if the game is not in the midst of an inning when the visiting team has taken the lead.
The use of the term “mercy rule” is a misnomer. The 10-run rule is not in place to limit the number of runs a team can score in a game. Little League strongly urges you to refer to this as the 10-run rule.
There have been only five forfeits in Major League Baseball since 1954; the last forfeit was in 1995, and prior to that, 1979. Since 1914, there has only been one incident where a team deliberately made a decision to forfeit a game, by the 1977 Baltimore Orioles.
It can become monotonous when a pitcher makes throw after throw after throw to first base in a vain attempt to pick off a pesky baserunner. This rule will limit pitchers to just two “step offs” or pickoff attempts per plate appearance.
How many innings are needed for an MLB game? A matchup must make it through the top of the fifth inning at a minimum before it can be considered an official game. If the home team is trailing at that point, the bottom of the fifth inning must be played in order for the game to be marked official.
There are nine regulation innings in a professional baseball game.
An official game is recorded if the game completes the fifth inning (15 total outs per team) or if the home team is leading in the middle of the fifth inning. If rain impacts a game before it is deemed “official,” the game is suspended and will be resumed at a later date.
In the case of a nine-inning game, if your team (or opponent) is winning by 10 runs after seven innings (or after the top of the sixth if you are the home team) the game ends. The Mercy Rule is in play after five innings (or after the top of the fourth if you are the home team) if your team is ahead by ten runs.
Baseball is sometimes called the timeless game. Unlike football, basketball or soccer, there’s no clock. The teams keep playing until there’s a winner. Theoretically, the game could go on and on forever.
In the MLB, a game will end early due to weather if one team is ahead after 5 innings (or 15 outs) have been completed by each team. Whoever has the most runs after those 15 outs will be declared the winner.
Most runs scored in a game in MLB history
720 with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays cleared the 27-run mark in the ninth inning with Red Sox infielder Yolmer Sanchez on the mound. Although 28 runs allowed is a club record, 23 runs isn’t the biggest loss. That’s still the 27-3 defeat in 1923 to Cleveland.
Most runs scored in a game in MLB history
720 with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays cleared the 27-run mark in the ninth inning with Red Sox infielder Yolmer Sanchez on the mound. Although 28 runs allowed is a club record, 23 runs isn’t the biggest loss. That’s still the 27-3 defeat in 1923 to Cleveland.
The record for most runs scored by a team in a single inning is 18, set by the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs) against the Detroit Wolverines on September 6, 1883. The modern-day record is 17, achieved by the Boston Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers on June 18, 1953.
What are the most runs in an MLB game? The Texas Rangers hold the record for most runs in an MLB game, dropping 30 against the Baltimore Orioles in 2007, so Toronto came within striking distance of breaking the record.
In baseball history, there have been four games in which the teams combined for six or fewer hits and at least 30 strikeouts. One of those games happened in 2015, one in 2018 and two in April 2021. In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series in which the Pirates beat the Yankees 10-9, there were no strikeouts.
In baseball history, there have been four games in which the teams combined for six or fewer hits and at least 30 strikeouts. One of those games happened in 2015, one in 2018 and two in April 2021. In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series in which the Pirates beat the Yankees 10-9, there were no strikeouts.