Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 6/30/2008

Question
Brian, I've checked the MLB rules and am still confused on this one. Home team is team 1. The starter for team 2 goes 6 innings and is down 2-0 when he leaves. The reliever for team 2 comes in and throws 2 innings giving up 1 run for a 3-0 lead for team one. In the top of the 9th team 2 scores 2 runs and comes up short losing 3-2. The bottom of the 9th is obviously not played as it is unnecessary. Who is the losing pitcher for team 2, the starter or the reliever. Thanks

Answer
Barb,

The starter is the losing pitcher.  A determination on the winning and losing pitcher is based on having a lead when the pitcher leaves the game that is never overcome.  So check out the following example:

Starter pitches 5 innings, his team is behind 1-0 when he leaves the game.  The reliever comes in and gives up 9 runs in the sixth; leaving the score 10-0.  His team then scores 9 runs the next two innings leaving the final score 10-9.  What happens?  Starter still gets the loss because he left the game behind and his team never tied the score or took the lead.

Hope this helps!

Brian