WBC games to be stopped after 14 innings in first two rounds

NEW YORK -- Get ready for ties in the first World Baseball Classic.

Organizers said Tuesday that games in the first two rounds of the tournament will be ended after 14 innings, even if teams remain tied.

In addition, the tournament's technical committee may suspend semifinal games after 14 innings if "pitcher availability for both teams would be substantially jeopardized by not suspending the game and pitcher availability would be substantially enhanced by resuming the game as a suspended game on the next day."

Ties would count as half a win and half a loss in determining a team's winning percentage, organizers said.

Rain also could cause situations that deviate from normal major league rules.

Game can be suspended, even if they have not gone long enough become regulation games. If the game affects which teams will advance, organizers will attempt to schedule the completion of the game for the following day. If it the game is suspended again during the first two rounds or the game isn't finished, the team that is ahead would be declared the winner if it is a regulation game, it would be a tie if the teams are even or it would be ruled "no game" if it hasn't become a regulation game.