Scoring glossary
Baseball scoring, in plain English.
Every term a parent runs into keeping score, plays, stats, and the old-school symbols, explained simply, with how each one is actually scored. Sourced from the same rules engine that powers the app.
- Terms
- 18 and growing
- Covers
- Plays · stats · symbols
- Reading level
- Bleacher, not rulebook
Plays & rules10
Fielder's ChoiceFCWhen the defense fields a batted ball cleanly and chooses to retire a different runner, letting the batter reach base without crediting a hit.ErrorEA misplay by a fielder that, with ordinary effort, should have resulted in an out or prevented an advance.Sacrifice FlySFA fly ball caught for an out with fewer than two outs that lets a runner tag up and score; the batter is not charged an at-bat.Sacrifice BuntSACA bunt made to advance a runner where the batter is retired; the at-bat is not charged.Double PlayDPA single defensive sequence that records two outs, often written as a string of position numbers like 6-4-3.Force OutFOAn out where a runner is required to advance and is retired simply by a fielder touching the base before they arrive.Dropped Third StrikeD3KA third strike the catcher fails to catch cleanly, which can let the batter try to reach first base.Infield Fly RuleWith runners on first and second (or bases loaded) and fewer than two outs, a catchable infield pop-up makes the batter automatically out.Putout & AssistPO / AA putout credits the fielder who records an out; an assist credits each fielder who handled the ball before it.Earned vs. Unearned RunERAn earned run is charged to the pitcher; an unearned run scored only because of an error or passed ball is not.
Stats6
Batting AverageAVGHits divided by at-bats; the classic measure of how often a batter gets a hit.On-Base PercentageOBPHow often a batter reaches base via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch; usually more telling than batting average.OPSOPSOn-base percentage plus slugging percentage; a single number for overall offensive value.RBIRBIA run batted in: credited when a batter's action directly drives a run home.ERAERAEarned Run Average: earned runs allowed per nine innings; the headline pitching stat.WHIPWHIPWalks plus hits per inning pitched; how many baserunners a pitcher allows.
Voice scorekeeping for baseball & softball
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