When does a pitcher earn a save?

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

I wonder when a closer earns the save.

Last night in game two of the Southern League Championship Series, Biscuits' relief pitcher Tony Peguero pitched two scoreless innings. He didn't earn the save according to the stats.

Final ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montgomery
------. 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 2 1 11 12 1
Huntsville
------. 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 10 3


Montgomery
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Sonnanstine, A (W, 2-0) 7.0 9 4 4 2 6 2 2.57
Peguero 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

I don't get it.

Can someone please explain?

Thank you.

[Chris O'Leary]

I wonder when a closer earns the save.

Last night in game two of the Southern League Championship Series, Biscuits' relief pitcher Tony Peguero pitched two scoreless innings. He didn't earn the save according to the stats.

Final ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montgomery
------. 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 2 1 11 12 1
Huntsville
------. 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 10 3



Good question that I only recently learned the answer to.

Basically, he didn't get the save because his team was too far ahead in the innings he pitched and he didn't pitch enough innings. As a result, the lead wasn't judged to be in jeopardy (by the rules).

To get a save, there has to be a reasonable chance that the pitcher can give up the lead.

The section of the rules of MLB is below. The relevant lines are in bold.

SAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS
10.20
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or
(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Good question that I only recently learned the answer to.

Basically, he didn't get the save because his team was too far ahead in the innings he pitched and he didn't pitch enough innings. As a result, the lead wasn't judged to be in jeopardy (by the rules).

To get a save, there has to be a reasonable chance that the pitcher can give up the lead.

The section of the rules of MLB is below. The relevant lines are in bold.

SAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS
10.20
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or
(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

Thank you for the quick answer. That makes it all very clear. :clapping