five-hitter
Noun A baseball game in which the pitcher for one team allows the opposing team to get exactly five base hits.
This is a specific statistical term used in baseball reporting and analysis. It describes the quality of a pitcher's performance in a single, complete game. It is typically used in sports journalism, game summaries, and player statistics.
- The rookie pitcher celebrated his first career five-hitter last night.
- Despite the loss, the starting pitcher threw a complete-game five-hitter.
- The headline read: "Smith's Five-Hitter Leads Tigers to Victory."
The term is part of a series of similar baseball statistics that categorize a game by the number of hits allowed by a single pitcher (e.g., one-hitter, two-hitter, three-hitter, four-hitter). A five-hitter is considered a solid, quality start but is not an exceptional feat like a no-hitter or one-hitter.
- No-hitter: A game in which a pitcher allows no hits.
- One-hitter: A game in which a pitcher allows only one hit.
- Shutout: A game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any runs. A five-hitter can also be a shutout if no runs are scored.
- 5-hit game: A more descriptive, non-compound synonym.
- Complete game (allowing five hits): A longer, more explanatory phrase.
This is a compound noun formed from "five" and "hitter." Its meaning is entirely specific to the sport of baseball. The focus is on the pitcher's individual achievement, regardless of whether his team won or lost the game.
- a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team 5 hits