Yankees vs Angels last night....Need an answer on a save situation here...?

Question

M.Gwyn came in the bottom of the 6th and got a save when they were up 13-5...Yankees did not get any closer then that, in fact Angels scored 5 more runs that inning.. How does he get a save.. ?All the box score have him down with the S..How is this???

Answer 1

Rule 10.19 in the Major League Baseball Rule book (which can be downloaded from MLB.com or purchased at any bookstore) states that the official scorer SHALL credit (shall being the key word) a reliever with a save if and you can check this if you wish :

1 - He is the finishing pitcher
2 - He is NOT the winning pitcher
3 - He is credited with at least 1/3 of an inning pitched and

He satisfies one of the following

A - He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for one inning.
B - He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run on base, on deck or at bat (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or one of the first two batters he faces or;
C - He pitches for at least three innings. (Gwyn met this criteria)

There is some wiggle room for the scorer but he (or she) is bound by that rule and has to apply it in that manner.

Answer 2

If a closer pitches more than 3 innings or closes the game with a 3 run lead or less he gets the save.

Answer 3

If you pitch the final 3 or 4 innings in a game, and your team is winning, you get a save no matter what the score is.

Answer 4

It's covered under Rule 10.19 D, Part 3 - if you pitch three innings, you can be awarded a save regardless of the score.

Answer 5

Because he pitched three innings and finished the game.

Here's the baseball save rule:
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.

Answer 6

If he pitched 3 innings and finished the game it doesn't matter what the score was.

Answer 7

Because if you come in and pitch 3 or more innings, and your team is winning, you earn the save.

Answer 8

It's a 3+ IP save -- uncommon, but real.

That's gotta be one of the ten UGLIEST saves in baseball history. Gwyn's line is enough to lose most ballgames.