Benches clear after a bunt breaks up a no-hitter in the Yard Goats-Thunder game

Jordan Heck

Benches clear after a bunt breaks up a no-hitter in the Yard Goats-Thunder game image

The Hartford Yard Goats were carrying a no-hitter heading into the ninth inning Tuesday night against the Trenton Thunder, but then things got a little out of hand.

Starting pitcher Rico Garcia did most of the damage, pitching six innings and recording 11 strikeouts. Then relievers Jordan Foley and Logan Cozart each pitched one inning without allowing a hit. Ben Bowden came in for the save, and recorded one out before facing Trenton's Matt Lipka.

With just two outs to go before finishing the no-hitter, Lipka decided to bunt on the first pitch he saw. It went down the first base line and he was safe at first.

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Bunting to break up a no-hitter is an unwritten rule in baseball (even though some agree it's a stupid rule).

So when it happens, feelings get hurt. And that was the case Tuesday night as the benches cleared after the single.

While there was clearly overall frustration by the team, Garcia wasn't too upset by the act itself. But he certainly wanted to see his team finish the no-hitter.

"It is what it is," Garcia said, 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."

The Thunder finished with the lone hit and lost the game 3-0 as Bowden safely recorded the next two outs.

UPDATE: According to NJ.com's Mike Rosenstein, Lipka was the victim of online harassment following his decision to bunt.

Via NJ.com:

According to a source not authorized to speak on behalf of the Thunder organization, the 27-year-old Lipka received death threats on social media following Tuesday’s game. The Thunder are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The source says the Yankees have been alerted to the threats and are investigating.

It's worth noting Lipka got on base while the game was still close. If just one other batter had gotten on base after him, then the tying run would have been at the plate. 

Jordan Heck

Jordan Heck Photo

Jordan Heck is a Social Media Producer at Sporting News. Before working here, he was a Digital Content Producer at The Indianapolis Star. He graduated with a degree from Indiana University.