earned or unearned

Batter leads off the inning with a single.

Next batter flies out to center.

While the third batter is up the runner on first steals second and goes to third on a wild throw by the catcher.

The third batter then flies out to center with the runner on third tagging up and scores.

The next batter flies out to end the inning.

Is the run earned or unearned?


Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

9.16 Earned runs and runs allowed: An earned run is a run for which the pitcher is held accountable.

In determining earned runs, the official scorer shall reconstruct the inning without errors (which exclude catcher's interference) and passed balls, giving the benefit of the doubt always to the pitcher in determining which bases would have been reached by runners had their been errorless play.

As you work through your situation, the first runner is on with a base hit.

Second hitter flies out, 1 out.

While third hitter is up, the runner from first steals second, and goes to third on a wild throw by the catcher.

Third runner flies out, for out number two - Run scores.

Next hitter flies out for out number 3.

Had the wild throw not occurred, the base runner would, at best have reached third base on the second fly out.

With the error, he was on third and able to score on the second fly out.

Run is unearned.

Yours in baseball,

Rick