Save (baseball statistics)

A save is a baseball statistic given to a pitcher who fulfills the following three conditions:

1. the pitcher is the last pitcher in a game won by his team
2. the pitcher is not the winning pitcher
3. the pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions
   1. he comes into the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches at least one inning
   2. he comes into the game with the potential tying run being either on base, at bat, or on deck
   3. he pitches at least three "effective" innings (this is the only subjective criterion and is judged by the official scorer)

The save is defined in Section 10.20 of the Official Rules. The statistic was introduced in 1969.

A blown save is given to a pitcher who would have been given a save if he had finished the game without surrendering the lead, but who allows the tying run to score. The blown save is not an official statistic but many sources keep track of them.