Ways To End A Baseball Game

The national game of the United States of America, baseball, has no definite time limit to end. The game’s ending must be regulated on certain terms and conditions to maintain the game’s duration. Since the measure for the duration is innings in the case of baseball, there are established inning and consequently game-ending instances. Let us see some ways to end a baseball game in this article.

Ways To End A Baseball Game

The most obvious instance of ending a baseball game can be the completion of all innings. Sometimes, a regulated game can have as many as seven innings, but the maximum number is nine for a baseball game. If the ender team scores more than the starter team, it wins. Otherwise, it loses. If there is a tie, then innings will continue until a winner is announced in a sequence that the ender team always plays last. Other force majeure reasons like darkness or weather that interfere with the game can also end the game on the umpire’s call. Agreement between the coaches from the opposite teams and the chief umpire can also turn out to be game-ending if the agreement is upon ending the game. Regulation of the state association also governs when and how the game should be ended. A highly unlikely event like a shutout can also end a game with the pitching team scoring the win. One team forfeiting the game can also end the game in favor of the opposing team.

Why and when should a baseball game end?

Force Majeure:

Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, emergencies like riots, terrorist attacks, or the threat of an attack, or darkness that impairs the game players and viewers from playing or spectating the game and for the umpires to observe it, add to the reasons where nothing can be done, and the game is consequently ended due to these unforeseen reasons. 

State Association Rules:

If any state association has regulations regarding the rules of the game and its duration, the game should be ended according to those rules and regulations. For example, if a state association has fixed the number of innings to seven, then only seven innings should be played if there is not a tie.

Agreement between the opposing coaches:

If the opposing coaches have reached an agreement regarding the ending of the game, then with the consent of the chief coach, the game should be ended if such a decision is not against the set rules of a state association. Such an ending may be due to an extended period of a game or if one team simply wants to walk out due to some reason.

The winning run:

If a team scores greater than the other team in the sequence of playing i.e., the batting team takes over the pitching and fielding team or vice versa, the game ends if the innings have also ended and the team with a higher score is awarded a win since the opposite team could not score higher even during the provided innings.

Shutout:

If a pitcher can out the batting team in consecutively three pitches without them scoring a single run, the pitcher is awarded a shutout win, and his team is an overall win of the game. Even if a pitcher cannot out all the batters but prevents them from scoring any point, and the next pitcher completes outing the rest of the batters with the same performance, then the shutout is credited to the complete team.

A team forfeits:

A possible event that can also end the game can be that one team forfeits and walks out. It is a highly unlikely event but in case this happens, the game ends and the team that forfeits the game is announced as the losing team. This can be due to any reason like the anticipation of a team that their loss is imminent, or they are not prepared well enough for the game. Either way, since there is no team with which the other team can compete, it is awarded a win. 

Conclusion

The game of baseball is just like cricket in which two teams face each other in a game composed of innings, and each team must take on batting or a pitching side after getting all the players out by the pitching team. So, the most obvious ending to the game is reached if at the innings end and one team stands victorious. Otherwise, the game continues until a team wins. A special condition for it is a shutout when the pitching team or a pitcher outs all the batters without letting them score a single run. The rules of the state association regarding baseball can also conclude a game by regulating its duration or the rules of the game themselves. Sometimes, the coaches from opposing teams can decide regarding the ending of a game and then reach the chief umpire to announce it. Natural calamities and situations that can lead to destruction, loss of property and life, loss of game decisions, or playing capability, or mass loss in general, also end the game. Such instances can include floods, earthquakes, storms of great magnitude, bad law and order situations, terrorism, or a threat of terrorism, riots, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 1: What can lead to an immediate game ending?

A shutout or any of the force majeure events having the potential to cause life and property damage leads to an immediate game ending.

Question 2: How many innings can a baseball match have?

The maximum number is regulated based on state association rules. Sometimes the game can have seven innings and it can have nine innings. However, in case there is a tie, the match can continue until one team wins.

Question 3: Is there a way in which a game can be intentionally ended?

Yes. If the opposing coaches decide to end the game by mutual decision. They can end the game by informing the chief umpire. A team that decides to walk away can also forfeit the game consequently ending it.