Understanding Innings in Baseball
Innings are the fundamental building blocks of baseball games. While the sport has many intricacies, the concept of innings is relatively straightforward yet essential for grasping the flow and structure of the game. In this guide, we will explore what an inning is, how innings are structured, and their importance in both amateur and professional baseball games.
The Definition of an Inning
An inning is a segment of a baseball game during which each team has the opportunity to bat and field. Each game is divided into nine innings unless the score is tied, in which case extra innings are played to determine a winner. Every inning consists of two halves: the top half and the bottom half. The away team bats during the top half, and the home team bats during the bottom half.
The Structure of an Inning
Each half-inning continues until the fielding team records three outs. Outs can be achieved through various means, such as catching a fly ball, striking out a batter, or tagging a runner. After three outs are recorded, the roles of the teams switch: the batting team