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

Example Sentences

After Willson Contreras and Lars Nootbaar greeted him with singles to put runners at the corners, Pozo squirted a two-out single over the infield to score pinch-runner Garrett Hampson for the go-ahead run.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a four-pitch walk that forced in a go-ahead run.

From Los Angeles Times

After a Shohei Ohtani two-run homer, a Teoscar Hernández RBI double and a run-scoring wild pitch from Brewers starter Freddy Peralta, the Dodgers had the go-ahead run at third with no outs.

From Los Angeles Times

Klein then walked Zack Short on a 3-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run.

From Los Angeles Times

The Bruins rallied in the eighth inning with RBIs from Brennan and Blake Balsz before Phoenix Call, the potential go-ahead run, grounded out with the bases loaded.

From Los Angeles Times