How many innings must be completed for a seven-inning game to be considered a regulation game?

A seven-inning game is considered a regulation game when at least four and a half innings have been completed. This means that if the home team is ahead after four innings, the game can be called complete. If the game goes to five full innings, it is also a complete game regardless of the score. However, to claim that a game has reached regulation status, four and a half innings must be played, allowing for the possibility of a home team victory at that point.

This rule is designed to provide a fair opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills while also accounting for potential weather interruptions or other circumstances that may necessitate calling a game early. Thus, stating that four and a half innings must be completed aligns with the specific criteria set for a seven-inning game to be recognized as having reached regulation status.