How can you strike out four batters in one inning?

Question

Phil Niekro and Paul Assenmacher did it, but I don't know how.

Answer 1

As noted, when the third strike pitch is not secured by the catcher, the pitcher is credited with a strikeout but the defense (in particular, the catcher) is not credited with a putout and the batter is entitled to try to advance to first base (some conditions apply, but this dropped-third-strike thing is always in effect if there are two outs). The batter-runner can be put out at first, of course.

The major league record is four; the minor league record is five strikeouts in one inning, done a few times; the most recent I know of is by Kelly Wunsch back around 1994. Wunsch, like Niekro, was a knuckleballer, which is certainly the most common type of pitcher to be when trying to baffle the catcher on where the pitch will be.

I'll try to dig up the official MLB rule and edit it in later. Kid bedtime....

EDIT: Here we go. MLB Rule 6.05 (abridged):
A batter is out when --
(c) A third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out;
(j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base;

6.05(c) defines that the batter is out on a missed-third-strike if the conditions are met (man on first, less than two out), because the situation is prone to abuse by the defensive team (say, the bases are full; oops! dropped the strike, batter is obliged to advance, quickly tag home -- a smart move if the runner on third is a speedster). 6.05(j) discloses that the batter is eligible to advance after a third strike if the putout is not recorded, which happens when we move along to rule 6.09...

MLB Rule 6.09 (abridged):
The batter becomes a runner when --
(b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out;
Rule 6.09(b) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.

When the catcher does not capture the strike three pitch, the ball is live and, since "strike three" concludes an at-bat, the batter is permitted to try to advance to first (when the conditions are met).

Get this situation to occur, and have the batter reach base through the benefit of the dropped third strike, and there's your window of opportunity for a fourth (or fifth, or sixth, etc.) strikeout without yet reaching a third putout.

Also, Rule 10.09, Putouts (abridged):
A putout is a statistic credited to a fielder whose action causes the out of a batter-runner or runner...
(b) The official scorer shall credit an automatic putout to the catcher when a:
(1) batter is called out on strikes;

And finally, Rule 10.15, Strikeouts (abridged):
A strikeout is a statistic credited to a pitcher and charged to a batter when the umpire calls three strikes on a batter, as set forth in this Rule 10.15.
(a) The official scorer shall score a strikeout whenever a batter:
(1) is put out by a third strike caught by the catcher;
(2) is put out by a third strike not caught when there is a runner on first before two are out;
(3) becomes a runner because a third strike is not caught...

Answer 2

If the catcher drops the ball on a third strike, the batter is able to try and run to first base. If he reaches safely, the pitcher is credited with a strikeout but an out is not recorded.

If this occurs, coupled with 3 additional strikeouts in an inning, a pitcher will end up with 4 strikeouts in the inning.

Answer 3

On the third strike, if it's a wild pitch or a passed ball (meaning the ball touches the dirt before or after the catcher touches it), then the batter is allowed to attempt to get to first base, and if he beats the throw, he's safe. Wild pitch = pitcher's error; Passed ball = catcher's error.

The other guys saying the catcher has to drop it is not entirely correct, as that doesn't necessarily happen. If the ball touches dirt before it reaches the catcher, even if the catcher holds on to the ball, the batter is allowed to attempt to advance to first.

So that's how you can get 4 K's. In fact, there is basically an unlimited number of K's you could technically have in one inning, though the catcher would really have to suck bad.

Answer 4

They already have struck out 2 batters, number 3 is up and he strikes out and the catcher drops the third strike and it either goes behind him, can't find it and the batter is running to 1st base on the dropped ball, so maybe the catcher throws it where the 1st baseman can't catch it and the batter is safe at 1st. Next batter, strikes out, side is retired and you have 4 strikeouts in an inning!

Answer 5

It can happen when the batter strikes out on the third strike and the catcher drops the ball. The batter then can run and make it safe to first base. The picture gets credit for the strike and the batter gets to free base without having to count the out. That's how.

Answer 6

When the Catcher drops strike three (or its a wild pitch), the batter can run to first base, and if he makes it, he stays there. It counts as a strikeout, but the runner advances on the wild pitch/passed ball. This way, you can strike out 4 in an inning.

Its been done several times (the last being Brad Penny last Sept. 22), my source will tell you who did it and when (as well as how)

Answer 7

A 3rd strike wild pitch where the runner advances to first is considered a strikeout, but not an out. So, if you have one of those, then strike out the next 3, that's a 4 strikeout inning.

Answer 8

if the catcher drops the 3rd strike ball, the batter can attempt to run to first, but 99.9% of the time the catcher will tag him out or throw the force at first. if there is no tag or force, and the batter reaches first, technically, it would still count as a strikeout, but it doesn't register as an out in the inning.

Answer 9

a strike 3 doesn't get catch and the hitter gets to first base. the pitcher then strikes out the next guy.

Answer 10

That's not possible.

3 strike outs is an inning so...idk