go-ahead run

[ goh-uh-hed ruhn ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a run that puts the batting team in the lead:

   The runner on third scores easily, and that’s the go-ahead run for Baltimore.

2. the runner who occupies a base closer to home plate than any other runner and who represents the team’s next opportunity to score a tie-breaking run:

   The go-ahead run is on second base, and any decent hit from Jackson is gonna bring him home.

Word History and Origins

Origin of go-ahead run¹

First recorded in 1990–95