wild pitch

[ wahyld pich ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a pitched ball that the catcher misses and could not be expected to catch, allowing one or more base runners to advance one or more bases.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild pitch¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Idioms and Phrases

A careless statement or action, as in Calling comic books great literature—that's a wild pitch . This term comes from baseball, where it signifies a pitched ball so far off target that the catcher misses it, enabling a base runner to advance. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

The visitors were in the last chance saloon when Soto led off with a base hit, advanced to second on a wild pitch and was driven in by Giancarlo Stanton to make it 4-2.

From BBC

The Dodgers passed them with a wild pitch and a Hernández rocket.

From Los Angeles Times

Cruz gave up a run in the first inning on a wild pitch, then retired nine consecutive batters in the second, third and fourth innings.

From Los Angeles Times

He threw a wild pitch that gave the Phillies their first lead since the first inning.

From Los Angeles Times

The deficit suddenly trimmed to one, Ohtani kept the inning going by slicing a single to left, then advancing to second on a wild pitch.

From Los Angeles Times