When a strikeout involves more than one batter, it is charged to:

• A. A strikeout cannot involve more than one batter.
• B. The first batter the pitcher faces beginning with his half of the inning.
• C. The batter listed on the lineup card.
• D. The batter who received at least two strikes. If no batter received more than one strike, it is charged to the batter who received the third strike.

Answer: (D)

When a strikeout spans more than one batter, the batter credited with the strikeout is the one who had at least two strikes in the sequence. If neither batter had two strikes, then credit goes to the batter who actually received the third strike. This keeps the credit with the batter who was closest to the decisive strike, rather than the first batter faced or the lineup listing. For example, if one batter has two strikes and another has only one when the out is finally recorded, the strikeout is charged to the batter with two strikes. If both batters each have only one strike, the batter who got the third strike is charged.