baseball puzzle #2

[milagros317]

Since there were several responses to baseball puzzle #1, I will do another one.

Sam pitched a complete game for the visiting team yesterday, throwing a total of 123 pitches in his 9-inning victory.

Joe, batting for the home team, swung at and missed the 81st, 82nd, and 83rd pitches that Sam threw. Yet Joe went 4-for-4, with no strikeouts.

How is this possible?

Remark: A batter is charged with a strikeout (and a time at bat with no hit) even if the catcher drops the third strike and the batter reaches first base safely. So a dropped third strike has nothing to do with this puzzle.

 

[kyle]

the 82nd pitch was his second strike in the count then someone got picked off causing the 3rd out. Joe then was first up next inning, swung, and missed.

 

[milagros317]

Correct! 😀

Excellent. I had in mind a caught stealing rather than a pick-off, but it works equally well. 😀