If a game is called after 4 innings but before the completion of the fifth, is it a regulation game if the home team is leading?

In this scenario, when a game is called after 4 innings but before the completion of the fifth inning, the game is not considered a regulation game if the home team is leading. According to the rules governing baseball, a game is only deemed complete or “regulation” if at least five innings have been played unless the home team is ahead. If the game is stopped before both teams have had an equal opportunity to bat in the fifth inning, the rules stipulate that it cannot be declared an official game simply based on the home team's lead at that point.

Thus, since the game has not reached the minimum innings required for a regulation status—five innings—the outcome isn't final, and as a result, it does not count as a regulation game despite the home team being ahead at the time of suspension. This underscores the importance of the specific inning threshold required for a game to be considered complete, ensuring both teams have had fair chances to compete in the context of the game's duration.