mercy rule

當運動比賽中，呈現一面倒的時候，為了不使比賽太難堪，提前結束的規則。
A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule (or, less commonly, knockout rule and skunk rule), brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team.

今天紐約時報世界棒球經典賽的報導

Japan 14, South Korea 2
Ichiro Suzuki’s Three Hits Erase Concern as Japan Routs Korea

Suzuki had 3 of his team’s 14 hits and scored three runs in the game, which was called after seven innings because of the tournament’s mercy rule.

AUS 17, MEX 7
Mexico has a lot of soul-searching to do and not a lot of time to do it. After its shocking mercy-rule defeat to Australia, the home team has an elimination game against South Africa set for 10 p.m. ET.

Not only did Australia break through with its first win in Classic history by beating heavily favored Mexico in Mexico City, but the Aussies did it in a mercy-rule inducing rout, winning 17-7 in a game that was stopped after eight innings.