Few sports ask players to put themselves in a disadvantage for the sake of unwritten rules quite like baseball does, and we see that whenever a player dares to disregard them.
Elly De La Cruz walked that line on Friday.
When a pitcher is working on a no-hitter, it's an implied understanding among both teams that you can't break up a no-hitter with a bunt. The idea is that players should try to beat a pitcher with their best effort and not try to spoil history with a bunt. But on the flip side, bunting is part of baseball. A pitcher should be prepared to defend against a bunt regardless of the no-hit situation.
So, with Brewers pitcher Tyler Alexander working on a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Reds, De La Cruz tried to catch Alexander off guard with a bunt down three runs.
Elly De La Cruz tried to bunt to break up a no-hitter in the sixth inning. Spicy. pic.twitter.com/yHSnm1XTlP
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 5, 2025
Now, Alexander did make a great play to throw out the speedy De La Cruz by a step. But Alexander was visibly annoyed with De La Cruz and gave the Reds star somewhat of a staredown.
The context of the bunt is important here, though. The Reds were coming off three straight 1-0 losses. The offense was doing nothing, and De La Cruz was looking for a way to use his speed to spark an inning. This wasn't a bunt in the ninth inning to spoil a no-hitter. It was a three-run game in the sixth — a bunt is totally fair.
Still, MLB fans had plenty of thoughts on Elly's bunt.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Dumbest unwritten rule in the history of any sport. https://t.co/p4eUTZKJ4K
— Chris H (@CoachHodes) April 6, 2025
what's the issue here? is bunting not part of baseball? https://t.co/t831rD1kn1
— Ernesto 🇦🇷 (@Ernesto14_GH) April 6, 2025
I do this in MLB the show everytime https://t.co/xKfRsHMOD1
— Brandon Zaikowski (@Bmz1298) April 5, 2025
Are you legitimately bothered by this? https://t.co/hNzyqPCdo3
— Josh Kizer (@KingfuPanda23) April 5, 2025
I’ll never understand someone having an issue with a team bunting to break up a perfect game/no hitter. https://t.co/W3Wrt2gxO3
— Kristopher Creed (@Kris_Creed) April 5, 2025
The real face of the MLB. You could never make me hate him https://t.co/c9t9meY4mY
— Pink Jabroni Club (@BeersWithAndres) April 5, ...
