Some baseball people believe it violates an unwritten rule to try to break up a no-hitter with a bunt. Count the Hartford Yard Goats among those people.
On Tuesday night, Matt Lipka of the Trenton Thunder, the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, beat out a bunt single with one out in the ninth inning to spoil a Yard Goats no-hit bid. After the game, benches cleared, although it doesn't appear any punches were thrown.
Here is the bunt that broke up the @GoYardGoats no-hit bid in the 9th. What does Hartford starter Rico Garcia think of it? -- https://t.co/JKJTmZDBEb pic.twitter.com/24r6ZHwEj4
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB)
June 5, 2019 Aftermath of a near fight at the end of the @GoYardGoats and @TrentonThunder game at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. 3-0 win for the Goats allowing only one hit as a team. #NoGoatsNoGlory #Pride #NBCCT @NBCConnecticut @GLucivero pic.twitter.com/N1QL5XUWFo
— Paul Ross (@RealPaulRoss)
June 5, 2019 Yard Goats starter Rico Garcia and three relievers, including closer Ben Bowden, who allowed the infield single, combined for 16 strikeouts in the 3-0 win in Hartford. They allowed just two base runners, the other reaching on an error. The Yard Goats are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
"It is what it is," Garcia said after the game, via MILB.com. "(Lipka) was doing what he had to do. And we were really passionate about getting the no-hitter. It is what it is. I can't really speak for what he was trying to do or what he was trying to accomplish. It's unfortunate we couldn't get the no-hitter. Emotions were high after."
While bunting late in a no-hitter is largely frowned upon in a blowout, Tuesday's game, at 3-0, was still within reach for the Thunder when Lipka laid down his bunt, making the move more debatable.
