How many innings make up a professional baseball game?

In professional baseball, a standard game consists of nine innings. Each inning is divided into two halves: the top half, where one team bats and attempts to score runs, and the bottom half, where the other team bats. The game continues until each team has had a chance to bat and the predetermined number of innings is completed.

While there can be special circumstances, such as rainouts or occurrences that affect gameplay, these generally do not change the standard nine-inning structure of a professional game. Extra innings may occur in tie situations, but the base game is always nine innings. This structure is an essential part of the sport and is maintained in leagues such as Major League Baseball and other professional organizations.