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Benches clear after player bunts to break up a no-hitter in the 9th inning

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.

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