Baseball rules

in baseball, a four-base hit resulting in a run by the batter

in baseball, hitting the ball into fair territory and safely reaching base without the benefit of an error or fielder's choice

offensive position in baseball and softball

way of keeping score in Baseball

thumb|A baseball scoreboard In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team playing defense. A full baseball game is typically scheduled for nine innings, while softball games consist of seven innings, although this may be shortened due to weather, or extended if the score is tied at the end of the scheduled innings. The use of the term inning in baseball and softball contrasts with cricket and round

volume of space through which a pitch must pass in order to be called a strike, if the batter does not swing

field on which baseball is played (for the whole stadium, see baseball park)

batting technique in baseball or fastpitch softball, resulting in an infield ground ball

baseball event in which the batter is hit by the pitched ball, and is awarded first base

in baseball, generally, a struck ball that ends up in foul territory

in baseball, when a runner is forced to vacate his base—and try to advance—because the batter became a runner

rules of baseball at different levels and in different countries

in baseball, when the fielding team effects any of several events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner ineligible to advance

thumb|right|upright|Bob Shaw (baseball)|Bob Shaw holds the major league record for most balks in a single game, five, in 1963. In baseball, a balk is a set of illegal motions or actions that a pitcher may make. Most of these violations involve pitchers pretending to pitch when they have no intention of doing so. In games played under the Official Baseball Rules that govern professional play in the United States and Canada, as well as NCAA rules governing college baseball, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disre

baseball term

in baseball, a member of the team at bat who runs around the bases

rule in baseball

thumb|A typical rundown situation in baseball showing a [[baserunner for the Texas Rangers as he attempts to evade the Chicago Cubs defense.]] In baseball, a rundown, informally known as a pickle, the hotbox, or goose chase is a situation that occurs when the baserunner is stranded between two bases, also known as '''no-man's land''', and is in jeopardy of being tagged out. When the baserunner attempts to advance to the next base, he is cut off by the defensive player who has a live ball, and attempts to return to his previous base before being tagged out. As he is doing this, the defender thr

in baseball, a type of foul

in baseball, a batted ball that entitles the batter to attempt to reach first base

pitch clock is used in various levels of baseball to limit the amount of time a pitcher uses before he throws the ball to the hitter

in baseball, illegally changing the course of play from what is expected

in baseball, action of a runner touching their starting base after the ball lands in fair territory or is touched by a fielder