scratch hit

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a batted ball, usually poorly hit, barely enabling the batter to reach base safely.

   a scratch hit off the end of the bat.

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Etymology

Origin of scratch hit

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

“I told him we were making it hard on ourselves trying to scratch hit after hit. It’s nice to hit one out every now and again.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 26, 2023

After giving up a scratch hit to leadoff man David Fletcher, Smyly struck out Mike Trout, retired Anthony Rendon on a flyball and fanned Justin Upton to end the first inning.

From Washington Times • Feb. 29, 2020

He faced only eleven batters, pitched only nine balls, fanned four, yielded one measly scratch hit.

From Time Magazine Archive

Beeton followed with a scratch hit just back of shortstop and the bases were full.

From The New Boy at Hilltop by Barbour, Ralph Henry

One scratch hit and a single, gifts to the weak end of the batting list, were all the lank pitcher allowed them.

From The Redheaded Outfield by Grey, Zane