Does this happen often?

[steve B]

I might be recalling it wrong, but wasn't there a game a few years back where both the middle reliever and the closer were simply awful but the offense was great winning the game.
The scorer used a little used rule that if the "winning" pitcher had been ineffective the win could go to the last effective pitcher, in that game the starter.

[commishbob]

Peter Schmuck, who covers the Orioles online these days, posted a proposal to change the rules on awarding wins in these situations in the wake of that game.

It's a quick read that says that the Official Scorer should have the liberty to award the win to a different pitcher, even a starter who doesn't go the 'required' five innings.

https://www.baltimorebaseball.com/20...tical-updates/