Definition

An earned run is any run that scores against a pitcher without the benefit of an error or a passed ball. Often, it is the judgment of the official scorer as to whether a specific run would've scored without the defensive mishap. If a pitcher exits a game with runners on base, any earned runs scored by those runners will count against him.

Earned runs is the key counting statistic used in ERA, the most widely accepted barometer of a pitcher's success.

If there are no errors or passed balls in a given inning or game, all the runs in that inning or game are earned runs.