What is a save in baseball?

In baseball, a save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher who meets specific criteria. Essentially, it rewards a pitcher for preserving a lead late in a game. Here's a breakdown of the requirements:

• The pitcher must enter the game in the seventh inning or later. (While there are some exceptions, this is the general rule.)

• The team must be winning. The pitcher cannot enter the game while their team is losing or tied.

• The pitcher must pitch at least three innings. This is often misinterpreted. The key is not pitching a full three innings, but rather pitching for enough outs in the seventh inning or later to satisfy the following criteria:

• The pitcher must not relinquish the lead. He can't allow the tying run to reach base or score. If he does, he's not eligible for a save, even if his team ultimately wins.

• The pitcher must finish the game, or complete at least three outs while preventing the tying run from reaching base or scoring. There are some minor exceptions to this depending on game circumstances, but the essence is the pitcher must hold the lead for an important portion of the late game.

• The save is awarded to only one pitcher per game. If multiple pitchers contribute to preserving the lead, only one earns the save according to the above criteria, usually the pitcher who recorded the final out with the lead still intact.

In short, a save recognizes a relief pitcher's crucial role in protecting a lead late in a close game, ensuring his team secures the victory. It's a valuable statistic that often reflects a pitcher's ability to perform under pressure in high-leverage situations.