Understanding Earned and Unearned Runs in Baseball After an Error

In the fast-paced world of baseball, understanding the intricacies of scoring plays a crucial role in evaluating the performance of players and pitchers. One commonly debated topic revolves around how a home run given up following an error with two outs is classified—whether it should count as a sole earned run or as two unearned runs. Let's delve deeper into this matter and explore the rules and nuances surrounding this issue.

Baseball Rules and Error Types

The classification of a home run as earned or unearned depends on the type of error that occurred. In standard baseball rules, two main types of errors are usually considered: the 'out' error and the 'base' error. However, the context and specifics of the play are often critical in determining the exact classification.

From the provided content, it seems that an 'out' error has occurred, which is the relevant scenario for our discussion. An 'out' error generally occurs when a player records an out but an error is committed by the fielding team. In this case, the home run hit would be considered unearned, with the runner who scored as a result of the error not being charged as an earned run.

The Specific Scenario

In your specific scenario, a pitcher gives up a home run following an error with two outs. The basic rule here is that the home run is considered one earned run and the other runs are unearned. This decision is based on the fact that the batter who hit the home run would not have come to the plate had the initial error not been made.

Rule Application and Scoring Details

According to Rule 9.16(i) of the official baseball rules, when pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher does not have the benefit of the previous chances for outs in determining earned runs. This means that the reliever is solely responsible for runs scored after taking over the pitching duties.

For example, consider the following scenario:

With two out and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker then reaches first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie hits a home run, scoring three runs.

In this case, the official scorer would charge two unearned runs to Peter (who was the original pitcher), one earned run to Roger (who relieved Peter), and three unearned runs to the team because the inning should have ended with the third out when Baker batted and an error was committed.

Additional Examples

To further clarify, here are two more examples to illustrate the application of these rules:

**Scenario 1:**

With two outs, and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker reaches first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie hits a home run scoring three runs. In this case, the home run is considered one earned run and the other two runs as unearned.

**Scenario 2:**

With two outs, and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker reaches first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie singles scoring Abel and advancing Baker to third. Baker then scores on an error by the shortstop, and then Charlie makes it safely to second. Charlie then hits a home run. In this case, the home run is considered one earned run (Charlie's home run) and one unearned run (because it would not have happened had Baker's initial error not occurred).

These examples demonstrate how the principle of maximum consideration for the pitcher is applied in different scenarios, ensuring a fair and accurate record of the game's outcome.

Conclusion

To summarize, when a pitcher gives up a home run following an error with two outs, the home run is generally considered one earned run, with the other runs as unearned. However, the exact classification can vary based on the specific details of the play and the rules in place. Understanding these nuances is crucial for both officials and fans to accurately interpret the scoring of baseball games.