Inning

An inning is a division of a game in baseball and softball consisting of a turn at bat for each team. Each inning is divided into two halves: the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). The visiting team bats in the top half, while the home team bats in the bottom half. An inning is completed when both teams have had their turn to bat and three outs have been recorded against each team.

Structure

In a standard Major League Baseball (MLB) game, there are nine innings. However, the number of innings can vary in other leagues and levels of play. For example, Little League Baseball games typically consist of six innings, while high school baseball games usually have seven innings.

Each half-inning continues until the defensive team records three outs. Outs can be made in various ways, including strikeouts, flyouts, and groundouts. Once three outs are made, the teams switch roles: the batting team takes the field, and the fielding team comes to bat.

Extra Innings

If the game is tied at the end of the regulation number of innings, extra innings are played to determine a winner. Extra innings continue until one team has more runs at the end of a completed inning. In MLB, the game can theoretically continue indefinitely until a winner is decided.

Historical Context

The concept of innings has been a fundamental part of baseball since its early development. The term "inning" itself is derived from the Old English word "innung," meaning "a taking in" or "a turn." This reflects the idea of each team taking its turn to bat and field.

Special Rules

In some leagues, special rules apply to innings. For example, in international baseball competitions, a mercy rule may end the game early if one team has a significant lead after a certain number of innings. Additionally, some leagues use a designated hitter rule, which can affect the strategy and length of innings.

See Also

• Baseball rules
• Softball rules
• Extra innings
• Out (baseball)
• Strikeout
• Flyout
• Groundout
• Designated hitter
• Mercy rule