Expert: Tom Schott - 5/15/2005

Question
Hello...

I was watching the Angels/Tigers game today.  Nate Robertson gave up 6 runs in the 3rd inning, but was only charged with one earned run.  I get that a run scored as a result of an error is defined as unearned, but how could that possibly apply to so many of the six runs.  The play-by-play of the half-inning follows:

- A. Kennedy singled to right  
- C. Figgins safe at first on pitcher N. Robertson's throwing error, A. Kennedy to second  
- V. Wilson catching  
- D. Erstad grounded into fielder's choice, A. Kennedy to third, C. Figgins out at second  
- V. Guerrero singled to right, A. Kennedy scored, D. Erstad to third  
- G. Anderson reached on fielder's choice, D. Erstad scored, V. Guerrero to second, V. Guerrero to third advancing on throw  
- J. Rivera struck out looking  
- O. Cabrera singled to center, V. Guerrero scored, G. Anderson to third  
- O. Cabrera stole second  
- R. Quinlan walked  
- B. Molina doubled to deep left, G. Anderson, O. Cabrera and R. Quinlan scored  
- A. Kennedy grounded out to second  

Can you shed some light?

Thanks,

Hans


Answer
Hans-Lee Tan,

  Sure. Figgins gets on first by an error. Erstad forces him at second for out number one. When Kennedy scores, he is an unearned run because he's he advanced into scoring position because of the error. When Erstad scores the second run, he represents a runner that was on by an error, so that run is not earned. Then Rivera strikes out for the second out of the inning. Now, IF there had been no error, the inning would be over: Rivera would have been the third out. So every run that scores after this is unearned.

Tom