Definition of "goat"

Fernando Rodney, the goat in Sunday's 10th inning loss to Tampa Bay, threw three nearly perfect innings in relief on Tuesday after being demoted from the closer role.

2008 August 6, “Tigers already miss Jones”, in Royal Oak Daily Tribune, Michigan

Tony Fernández, who has worn hero's laurels throughout the postseason including earlier in this seventh game of the World Series, now cruel as it may seem, perhaps being fitted for goat horns.

1997, "1997 World Series", Game 7, bottom 11th inning, TV broadcast on NBC Sports, early morning October 27, 1997; words by Bob Costas

Samaurez said over his shoulder, “In fact, I missed being the class goat by only three places.” Gwen patted his arm, “But, look H-Two, George Pickett was the goat and see how famous he became.”

2008, Ned B. Ricks, Trusting Appearances: Things Are Not Always as They Seem, page 259

...Butch was the goat in that deal and innocent of the trap he was placed in.

2013, Larry Pointer, In Search of Butch Cassidy

“If Osterman wants to play the goat, why should you help him out?”

2013, Frank Norris, The Octopus

Rape and clover has yielded 283 sheep days of pasture, practically dry weather […] For the coming year it is planned to goat this area continuously

1918, Agricultural Experiment Station, Director's Biennial Report, page 51

John Rocker, meanwhile, was spared from getting goated because he didn't blow a save

2001 July 15, “A worthy Rusch to judgment”, in USA Today