Bleacher Notes
Early access
GlossaryPlays & rules

Walk-Off

Any play by the home team in the bottom of the final inning that scores the winning run and ends the game immediately.

A walk-off is not a specific play but a circumstance: the home team, batting last, scores the run that puts them ahead, and the game ends on the spot because there is nothing left to play.

It can be almost anything. A walk-off single, a walk-off home run, a walk-off walk with the bases loaded, even a walk-off error. The name comes from the losing team walking off the field.

One quirk: on a walk-off home run with runners on, every run counts, but the game ends once all runners touch home. The winning margin is whatever crossed, not capped at one.

What is a walk-off in baseball?

Any play in the bottom of the final inning where the home team scores the go-ahead run, ending the game immediately. It can be a hit, a home run, a walk, or even an error.

Can the road team have a walk-off?

No. Only the home team bats last, so only the home team can end a game with a scoring play.

Related terms
Run · RThe unit of scoring in baseball, credited to a baserunner who legally touches first, second, third, and home before the third out.RBI · RBIA run batted in: credited when a batter's action directly drives a run home.Crooked NumberAny inning where a team scores two or more runs, so called because the digit written in the linescore is not a straight 0 or 1.
Voice scorekeeping for baseball & softball

Let the scorebook keep itself.

Bleacher Notes scores every play from a single spoken sentence, applying these rules for you. In beta now, free for parents.

The beta is open. We'll only email you your invite, nothing else.