As a beginner, one might be unaware of how many innings in baseball games are played, and if that’s the case with you, then don’t go anywhere else because you have come to the right place. In reading this article, you will find out the number of innings played in a baseball game. Moreover, you will also learn about various other factors, such as the extra innings, time length of each inning, and so on.
All baseball games are supposed to last for nine innings, but sometimes things do not always go as planned, and sometimes that number goes beyond nine. There could be various reasons behind the extension of a game; some include natural disasters such as a tornado, rain, or thunderstorms. MLB has certain protocols to deal with mother nature when things go wrong.
SO HOW MANY INNINGS IN BASEBALL, AND WHY ARE THEY NOT THE SAME EVERY TIME?
As mentioned earlier the answer to “how many innings in baseball” is 9 innings. Although Nine innings are played in a baseball game, but that’s not always the case because sometimes this number exceeds for numerous reasons, and one of the most common ones is the weather. Sometimes weather goes to extreme levels and makes it highly complicated for teams to continue their game since it neither allows players to play their natural game and at the same time nor let fans enjoy the game.
In the coming section, you will find out what weather conditions can affect how many innings in baseball to be played and when they would declare the weather as extreme.
WHEN TO DECLARE A MATCH “OFFICIAL” AND THE LEAST NUMBER OF INNINGS IN OFFICIAL MATCHES
Conferring to the rules devised by MLB regarding the requirement of a minimum number of innings in a game so that it can be declared as an official match, both teams must play at least 5 innings which otherwise will not be declared as an official game.
So, how many innings in baseball are played in the case when a match is terminated due to extreme weather. Below are the rules devised by MLB regarding the termination of a baseball game during extreme weather conditions.
“A game is declared a regulation game or an “official game” — once the visiting plays five innings or (15 outs) and the leading is home team, or once the home team reaches 15 outs irrespective of the score. …
If an official game ends early due to extreme weather, then the results are marked as final if the leading team is the home team. If the home team is sweeping, the results are marked final, knowing the game’s inning has not reached halftime when the visiting team takes the lead. “
Similarly, when a game ends due to weather when it is in the middle of the inning or tied, such matches will be played again and are called suspended games.
“If an official game is ended early due to extreme weather and the game either ties or ends during the inning in which the visiting team has taken the lead, it becomes a suspend game that will be completed at a later date from the point of termination.”
CHANGES IN MLB “CUT SHORT” RULES DURING COVIDE-19
according to MLB rules prior to covid-19, once a match would cut short due to bad weather, it would be suspended and played again with a counting score from the beginning; moreover, according to new protocols devised during covid-19, games that were cut short will be resumed and played again.
But how many innings in baseball are played in the case when a game ties after the 9th inning? Well, similar to some other games, MLB has devised rules in this case, too, and conferring to those rules, when a match ties between two teams, extra innings will be awarded until either of the two teams is declared victorious.
Thank you for reading!