wild pitch

American  

[wahyld pich] / ˈwaɪld ˈpɪtʃ /

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.

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wild pitch Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of wild pitch

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Compare meaning

How does wild-pitch compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• passed ball vs. wild pitch

Example Sentences

George Springer led off with a base hit, was bunted over to second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

From BBC

In the eighth, a wild pitch by Banda advanced Ernie Clement into scoring position, and then he scored on a subsequent single.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers set some sort of record for embarrassment with three wild pitches in the decisive seventh.

From Los Angeles Times

In the third, however, he followed a leadoff single by Bryan Reynolds with a pair of wild pitches that got by Rushing.

From Los Angeles Times

Catchable fly balls drop, wild pitches, poor effort from the bullpen are costly as Dodgers fall to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

From Los Angeles Times