WATCH: Yankees’ minor leaguer breaks up no-hitter by breaking a cardinal rule, nearly incites bench-clearing brawl

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You won’t find it written anywhere in a rule book. But it’s common knowledge in baseball circles that you don’t try to break up a no-hitter by bunting. But there was Yankees minor leaguer Matt Lipka, bunting for a base hit Tuesday in the ninth inning of a Double-A game between the Trenton Thunder and Hartford Yard Goats (yes, that is the actual name of the team; Hartford is the Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies).

Yard Goats pitcher Rico Garcia threw six no-hit innings, striking out 11, before turning the game over to the bullpen. With one out in the ninth inning, Lipka faced Yard Goats closer Ben Bowden, and laid down a bunt up the first base line. It would be Trenton’s only hit of the game as the Yard Goats beat the Thunder, 3-0.

However, Hartford didn’t take kindly to Lipka’s bunt and the benches cleared after the final out, with the Yard Goats peeved at the Thunder for breaking up the no-hitter by breaking baseball protocol.

Per MILB.com: “It is what it is,” Garcia said. “[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.”

A couple of notes worth mentioning:

  1. Lipka was batting with his team down by just three runs in the ninth inning. If he gets on base, Lipka turns over the lineup and gives the Thunder a chance at rallying. So Lipka, as the No. 9 hitter, bunting for a base hit could be justified as legitimate baseball strategy.
  2. The no-hitter being thrown by Hartford was a team effort. Bowden was the Yard Goats’ fourth pitcher of the night.

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So who is Matt Lipka? Glad you asked. According to Baseball Reference, the 27-year-old infielder was drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Braves in 2010. He joined the Yankees organization for the 2019 season. In his 10-year career, Lipka has never made it above Triple-A. Lipka is hitting .192 in 16 games for the Double-A Thunder.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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