Winning Pitcher?

[jaywalk]

Game is tied at the bottom of the 6th inning. Visiting team scores 3 runs in the top of the 7th. A new pitcher comes in for the visiting team and closes out the game. How is the game scored for the pitchers?

[TurboAg]

The win goes to the pitcher who was in the game when his team assumed the lead. That means the visiting team took the lead in the top of the 7th, thus the new pitcher who came in to pitch in the bottom of the 7th inning gets creditted for the win. The previous pitcher left at the end of the 6th with the game tied, therefore does not figure into the decision. (MLB 10.17.a)

[jcbeckman]

The previous pitcher isn't out of the game until the bottom of the 7th - when his team is already in the lead. Since he pitched 6 innings, it seems to me the starter gets the win. If this had happened before the 5th inning, then the reliever would get the win, based on reading 10.17a and b.

[bmclaurin]

The preceding pitcher gets the win (assuming he was the starter), even if he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the 7th (OBR 10.17a). He is still the pitcher of record until the reliever takes the mound in the bot 7th.

If the preceding pitcher was a reliever, then 10.17c applies, which means the official scorekeeper must select the reliever that, in the scorer's judgment, was most effective. To illustrate, if the the preceding pitcher was a reliever that came into the game in the bot 6th with 2 outs and a 2-run lead but subsequently yields 2 runs (thus tying the game) before getting the 3rd out, then it would be unlikely that such reliever gets the win because that performance would be considered ineffective under 10.17c.

[TurboAg]

The preceding pitcher gets the win.

After further review, I have to recant my previous conclusion and agree with bmclaurin. The reliever doesn't officially enter the game until he toes the rubber in the bottom of the 7th, therefore the previous pitcher is credited for the preceding half inning's offensive production as he's still the pitcher of record. Interestingly enough, even if the relief pitcher pinch hit for the starting pitcher in the top of the seventh and drove in the winning run, the starter would still get the win, by the same logic-i.e., no new pitcher of record until the bottom of the 7th.

Great question.

[OhioTex]

I enjoyed this learning thread. Thanks all.

[jaywalk]

Thanks to everyone who weighed in. Very interesting watching the dialog. Well done!