To get three outs in an inning without allowing a hitter to reach first base. If the score is tied at all times during an up-3-down game, then it is a tie game.
(baseball) to get three outs in an inning without allowing a hitter to reach first base. Noun. A team that can do this is said to have "shut down" one or more hitters.
This term comes from the fact that, in baseball, a batter can score no more than three runs per inning. If he gets three bases on balls or hits with runners in scoring position, then the pitcher has failed him.
Thus, "to shut down a hitter" means to prevent him from reaching third base. Or, put another way, it means that player cannot himself be scored out.
Hitting teachers use this phrase when discussing different types of pitchers with their students. For example, a good fastball-slider pitcher can "shut down" a batter who is known for his power batting style by throwing him slow curves and changeups over the plate. A finesse left-hander could very well do the same if given the chance. The point is that there are many ways to "shut down" a hitter - you just need to find out which ones work best for your team.
As for what happens if a hitter reaches first base or home plate without getting out, that depends on the situation.
Batters will frequently take (rather than swing at) a 3-0 pitch since the pitcher has already missed the strike zone three times, and a fourth would result in a walk. Pitchers' counts are counts with two strikes (excluding 3-2). A pitcher will benefit much from a 0-2 count. With two balls and no strikes, the batter can do some serious damage if he gets a good pitch to hit.
In addition, a 0-2 pitch is considered dangerous because it is usually thrown when the pitcher needs a quick out or wants to set up a bunt. This is often called a "show" pitch because it is used to distract the batter from any signs of weakness on the part of the pitcher. If the batter swings at this pitch, he will often get a bad break since it was not meant for contact.
Finally, a 0-2 pitch is considered especially valuable because it is almost never walked off. While pitchers may want to go outside, have him chase a low pitch so that he cannot pull it, they generally don't have another chance until the next hitter comes up. Since there are usually only two pitches per plate appearance, teams try to use them wisely.
In baseball and softball, three outs equals a full inning. Because each team bats in an inning, three outs for the visiting team and three outs for the home team equals one inning. Who has struck out five batters in one inning?
The innings are divided into two halves, with the visiting team batting first and the home team batting second. In an MLB game, if both teams are tied at the completion of nine innings, the game continues and more innings are played until one side scores more runs than the other.
A full count (also known as a full house in softball) is the conventional terminology for a count in which the hitter has three balls and two strikes. A strike against the batter results in a strikeout, whereas a ball results in a walk. If the batter hits into a field of play out-of-zone fouls, then he or she will not be awarded any bases on balls.
Two outs and no one on base means that there are two balls and no strikes. Any pitch that does not hit the zone will result in a free pass or walk. A full count with two balls and no strikes means that the batter can only be awarded one base on balls if she gets a hit. If she does not get a hit, then the pitcher is awarded the base since he had the chance to execute a pitch but did not.
In practice, managers often call pitches that do not hit the zone "balls", even when there are still two strikes present. This allows the pitcher more freedom in choosing where to place the ball in order to induce a swing at anything other than what he intends. While this may seem like a useful tactic, it does give the pitcher the opportunity to try and deceive the batter by throwing a ball where they don't expect it.
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