How many innings must be pitched in order for a pitcher to get credit for either a win or a loss?
by 
Anonymous
ANSWERS: 2
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A starting pitcher must pitch at least 5 innings to get credit for a win. There is no minimum that a starter must pitch to be tagged with a loss... I have known starters be removed from games without recording an out after they have been hit to all parts, and if their team doesn't recover then they will receive the "loss". This is also true of a losing reliever... they do not have to retire any batters to "lose" the game. A winning reliever must retire at least 1 batter though - in order to be the pitcher of record when the game lead changes hands, then out of necessity he has to have recorded at least the final out of the preceding inning.
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In addition to TheKnife's comments, if the starting pitcher is pulled before completing 5 innings and his team has a lead it never gives up, things can get a little more complex. If the team uses more than one relief pitcher during the remainder of the game, the official scorer gives the win to the relief pitcher the official scorer judges most effective. If two or more relief pitchers were similarly effective, the official scorer gives the presumption to the earlier pitcher as the winning pitcher. This is one of the "scoring" rules covered under rule 10 in the Official Baseball Rules. Winning and losing pitchers are specifically covered under rule 10.17. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/official_scorer_10.jsp
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