9.03 Official Score Report (Additional Rules)

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(a) In compiling the official score report, the Official Scorer shall list each player’s name and fielding position, or positions, in the order in which the player batted, or would have batted if the game ended before the player came to bat.

Rule 9.03(a) Comment:

When a player does not exchange positions with another fielder but is merely placed in a different spot for a particular batter (for example, if a second baseman goes to the outfield to form a four-man outfield, or if a third baseman moves to a position between the shortstop and second baseman), the Official Scorer should not list this as a new position.

(b) The Official Scorer shall identify in the official score report any player who enters the game as a substitute batter or substitute runner, whether or not such player continues in the game thereafter, in the batting order by a special symbol that shall refer to a separate record of substitute batters and runners. The record of substitute batters shall describe what the substitute batter did. The record of substitute batters and runners shall include the name of any such substitute whose name is announced, but who is removed for another substitute before he actually gets into the game. Any such second substitute shall be recorded as batting or running for the first announced substitute.

Rule 9.03(b) Comment:

Lower case letters are recommended as symbols for substitute batters and numerals are recommended as symbols for substitute runners. For example, an official score report may note as follows: “a-Singled for Abel in third inning; b-Flied out for Baker in sixth inning; c-Hit into force for Charles in seventh inning; d-Grounded out for Daniel in ninth inning; 1-Ran for Edward in ninth inning.” If a substitute’s name is announced but the substitute is removed for another substitute before he actually gets into the game, the Official Scorer report shall record the substitute, for example, as follows: “e-Announced as substitute for Frank in seventh inning.”

(c) How to Prove a Box Score

A box score shall balance (or is proven) when the total of the team’s times at bat, bases on balls received, hit batters, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and batters awarded first base because of interference or obstruction equals the total of that team’s runs, players left on base and the opposing team’s putouts.

(d) When Player Bats Out of Turn

When a player bats out of turn and is put out, and the proper batter is called out before the ball is pitched to the next batter, the Official Scorer shall charge the proper batter with a time at bat and score the putout and any assists the same as if the correct batting order had been followed. If an improper batter becomes a runner and the proper batter is called out for having missed his turn at bat, the Official Scorer shall charge the proper batter with a time at bat, credit the putout to the catcher and ignore everything entering into the improper batter’s safe arrival on base. If more than one batter bats out of turn in succession, the Official Scorer shall score all plays just as they occur, skipping the turn at bat of the player or players who first missed batting in the proper order.

(e) Called and Forfeited Games

(1) If a regulation game is called, the Official Scorer shall include the record of all individual and team actions up to the moment the game ends, as defined in Rule 7.01. If the game is a tie game, the Official Scorer shall not enter a winning or losing pitcher.

(2) If a regulation game is forfeited, the Official Scorer shall include the record of all individual and team actions up to the time of forfeit. If the winning team by forfeit is ahead at the time of forfeit, the Official Scorer shall enter as winning and losing pitchers the players who would have qualified as the winning and losing pitchers if the game had been called at the time of forfeit. If the winning team by forfeit is behind or if the score is tied at the time of forfeit, the Official Scorer shall not enter a winning or losing pitcher. If a game is forfeited before it becomes a regulation game, the Official Scorer shall include no records and shall report only the fact of the forfeit.

Rule 9.03(e) Comment:

The Official Scorer shall not consider that, by rule, the score of a forfeited game is 9 to 0 (see Rule 2.00 (Forfeited Game)), notwithstanding the results on the field at the point the game is forfeited.