Question

In baseball, what is an "inning"?

Answer 1

Answer: A division of a baseball game where both teams get a turn at bat, with each team's turn ending after three outs.

Explanation:

Think of an inning as one complete round in a baseball game where both teams get their chance to score. It's like taking turns in any game you might play with friends – each team gets a fair opportunity to bat and try to score runs before switching roles.

Each inning has two parts: the top half and the bottom half. During the top half, the visiting team bats while the home team plays defense (fielding). Once the visiting team gets three outs, they switch roles. Then during the bottom half, the home team gets to bat while the visiting team takes the field.

The key concept here is the three outs rule. A team's turn at bat continues until they accumulate three outs. An out can happen in several ways – a batter might strike out, hit a ball that gets caught in the air, or get thrown out at a base. Once three outs occur, that half of the inning ends, and the teams switch positions.

A standard baseball game consists of nine innings, which means each team gets nine chances to bat and score runs. If the game is tied after nine innings, extra innings are played until one team has more runs at the end of a complete inning. This structure ensures that baseball games are fair and balanced, giving both teams equal opportunities to demonstrate their skills both offensively and defensively.

Understanding innings helps you follow the rhythm and flow of baseball. When you hear someone say "bottom of the ninth," you'll know that the home team is batting in their final regular chance to score, which often creates the most exciting moments in baseball!