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Bunt by Kiermaier a matter of perfecto timing
- Updated: August 14, 2016
NEW YORK — The unwritten rules say you never bunt to break up a no-hitter.
Kevin Kiermaier wasn’t concerned with that Saturday afternoon during the Rays’ 8-4 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka had a perfect game going, retiring the first 10 hitters in order as New York took a 2-0 lead. Then Kiermaier stepped to the plate with one out in the fourth.
“He retired the first 10 batters, a great job,” Kiermaier said. “But I wanted to try and lay one down there and put the pressure on the defense and it ended up working out for us that inning.”
Tanaka threw an 82-mph slider on the first pitch and Kiermaier dropped a bunt down the third-base line, racing to first to reach with a single. Yankees fans booed, aghast that Kiermaier would dare bunt to break up a perfect game.
Taboo, maybe, but winning is the goal of any game, and Kiermaier’s bunt single ignited a go-ahead rally.
“It was the fourth inning,” Kiermaier said. “I …
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