Baseball has more unwritten rules than most can keep track of, and “don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter” is among those lame guidelines to unofficially police the game.
It’s a rule that is rarely brought into question because no-hitters are somewhat of a rarity, but on Wednesday, it happened.
During the Double-A matchup between the Hartford Yard Goats and the Trenton Thunder, Hartford went into the ninth inning with a combined no-hitter intact. After recording the first out of the final inning, Trenton’s Matt Lipka stepped to the plate … and he broke out a gem of a bunt for an infield hit.
Though Hartford would hold on to win, 3-0, in a one-hitter, the team predictably took exception with Lipka’s bunt. Benches would clear at the end of the game, but little happened beyond a bunch of shouting.
As someone who vehemently opposes the unwritten rules, I’m not about to change now. Lipka had every right to bunt in that situation.
First off, it was a 3-0 game. The score was still in reach, and they needed baserunners. Lipka did what he had to do in hopes of sparking the offense.
Second of all, it was a combined no-hitter between four pitchers. That hardly counts as anything worth causing a scene over on the basis of some unwritten rules.
Just make the play next time. It’s that simple.
