Strike or Ball
On any pitch, if the batter swings at the ball and misses, he is
charged with a strike. If the batter does not swing, the home
plate umpire judges whether or not the ball passed through the
strike zone. If the ball passes through the zone, it is ruled
a strike; otherwise, it is declared to be a ball. The number
of balls and strikes thrown to the current batter is known as
the count.
Foul Ball
If the batter swings and makes contact with the ball, but does
not put it in play in fair territory—a foul ball—he
is charged with a strike, except when there are already two strikes.
Thus, a foul ball with two strikes leaves the count unchanged,
though a ball that is bunted foul with two strikes always counts
as a third strike. If a pitch is batted foul and a member of
the defensive team is able to catch it, before the ball strikes
the ground, the batter is declared out. In the event that a batter
makes contact with the ball, but the ball continues directly
into the catchers mitt without striking the ground a foul tip
is called and the batter is charged with a strike. If the batter
has two strikes already, the batter is now out, charged with
a strikeout.
Strikeout or Baserunner
On the third strike the batter is declared out, a strikeout;
on the fourth ball the batter is entitled to advance to first
base
without risk of being put out. This is called a base on balls
or walk. If the batter puts the ball in play in fair territory,
he becomes a baserunner, and must get to first base safely. A
batter always drops his bat when running to first base—the
bat otherwise would slow him down and also be a danger to fielders.
Hit By Pitch
If the pitcher, either intentionally or unintentionally, hits the
batter, the umpire will declare a hit by pitch and the batter
is awarded first base.
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