Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 9/14/2008

Question
My husband and I can't figure this one out. A team is winning when the starting pitcher leaves the game. The team loses the lead but regains it to win the game. Does the starting pitcher get the win? Or the relief pitcher when they regain the lead?

Answer
Typically, the pitcher awarded the win is whoever is in the game when the team takes a lead it never gives up.  So in the case you mentioned, the relief pitcher in the game would get the win.

There is an exception for the official scorer though.  They can chose to award the win to the 'most effective pitcher.'  This is rarely used, but if a pitcher comes in and gets hammered; but his team then scores piles of runs in go back in the lead, the official scorer has leeway to award the win to a different pitcher.

The starting pitcher can only get the win if they pitch five or more innings and leave the game with a lead the team never gives up though.

Hope this helps!

Brian