OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES

Rule 9.17cerned. Once the opposing team assumes the lead, all pitcherswho have pitched up to that point and have been replaced areexcluded from being credited with the victory. If the pitcheragainst whose pitching the opposing team gained the lead continuesto pitch until his team regains the lead, which it holds tothe finish of the game, that pitcher shall be the winning pitcher.(b) If the pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher isin the game, or during the inning on offense in which suchpitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish suchlead, is a starting pitcher who has not completed(1) five innings of a game that lasts six or more innings ondefense, or(2) four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense,then the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher therelief pitcher, if there is only one relief pitcher, or the reliefpitcher who, in the official scorer’s judgment was the mosteffective, if there is more than one relief pitcher.Rule 9.17(b) Comment: It is the intent of Rule 9.17(b) (Rule10.17(b)) that a relief pitcher pitch at least one completeinning or pitch when a crucial out is made, within the contextof the game (including the score), in order to be credited as thewinning pitcher. If the first relief pitcher pitches effectively, theofficial scorer should not presumptively credit that pitcher withthe win, because the rule requires that the win be credited tothe pitcher who was the most effective, and a subsequent reliefpitcher may have been most effective. The official scorer, indetermining which relief pitcher was the most effective, shouldconsider the number of runs, earned runs and base runnersgiven up by each relief pitcher and the context of the game atthe time of each relief pitcher’s appearance. If two or morerelief pitchers were similarly effective, the official scorershould give the presumption to the earlier pitcher as the winningpitcher.(c) The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher arelief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when atleast one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping132