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| Short but Sweet (Posted on 2003-10-28) |
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What is the fewest number of pitches that a pitcher in a major league baseball game can throw and come away with a complete game?
(A real complete game, not shortened by rain or anything like that)
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Submitted by DJ
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Rating: 3.9333 (15 votes)
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Solution:
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(Hide)
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25
A first thought would be if he threw each batter one pitch, which was hit into the infield or popped up for a fielded out. If that were the case, he would have thrown 3 pitches in each of 9 innings for a total of 27 pitches.
However, if the batting team is ahead going into the bottom of the ninth, they will not continue needlessly when the game has been decided.
In that scenario, the losing pitcher throws only eight innings. For the pitcher to be losing, though, each opposing batter cannot have batted into an out, or there would be no score; one batter must have hit a home run. Then, the other 24 at-bats hit into outs, and the game ends after the top of the ninth.
There are a few other stipulations: the pitcher must be on the away team (thus, his team bats first), and his team cannot score at all during the course of the game. Then, with one home run and 24 fielded outs, he throws only 25 pitches during the complete game.
Interestingly to note, the pitcher in this scenario pitched a one-hitter but still lost the game; and he pitched a one-hitter without throwing a single strike. |
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