I would like to know how it is determined in baseball which pitcher on the winning team gets the win?

Question

I watched today's game with the Tampa Bay Rays and Balfour pitched only one inning and received the win. I don't understand.

Answer 1

he couldnt have a pitcher must pitch at least 5 full innings and have the lead when he is taken out to get the win and runners on base when he gets taken out are HIS responsibility.

ex. pitcher 1 get taken out w/ bases loaded...pitcher 2 comes in and give up the grand slam...pitcher 2 would add a SOLO home run to his ERA and pitcher 1 would add a 3-RUN homer to his ERA.

Answer 2

If a starter leaves the game after less than five innings with the lead and that lead is held for the rest of the game, the win is typically given to the next pitcher of record. But the rule states that in that situation it is up to the official scorer to designate the winner based on who pitched well the remainder of the game. So if the starter leaves after 4 innings with a 10-0 lead, the next pitcher comes in and gives up eight runs and then the next guy, say, pitches two scoreless innings, the scorer can credit the second relief pitcher with the win.

Answer 3

The starting pitcher must go 5 innings to get a win, regardless of what the score is.  He could leave the game with his team ahead 10-3, but if he only pitches 4 innings, he can't get the win.  The pitcher who comes in after him would now be considered the pitcher of record, and assuming his team holds the lead and wins, he would get the win.

In Balfour's case today, he came into the game with Rays trailing 3-1.  The inning after he pitched, the Rays scored a bunch of runs to take the lead.  At the time, he was still technically in the game, so he got credit for the win.  

Answer 4

the rays didnt have any runs when balfour relieved kazmir

Answer 5

The pitcher of record when the team gets the winning run is the winning pitcher. If the starter does not pitch 5 innings, the relief pitcher, if the team is ahead, gets the win.

Answer 6

By looking at the box score, I can see that when Kazmir left the game, they were losing 3-1 at the end of 6 innings.  Since Kazmir left the game while they were losing, he is only eligible to receive a loss or no decision.  

Balfour came in to pitch the bottom of the 7th and didn't give up any runs.  So the score remains 3-1 White Sox.  

In the top of the 8th, the Rays scored 4 runs, making it a 5-3 lead in their favor.  At this time, Balfour is still in the game.  So he is eligible for the win.  

Even though Bradford came in for the bottom of the 8th, Balfour was in the game when the Rays took the lead, so he gets the win.

Starting pitchers must pitch at least 5 innings, and their team must protect the lead for the rest of the game after he comes out in order for him to get the win.