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Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea was pulled without having allowed a hit through five-plus innings on Saturday, and it came without even a hint of controversy. The A's would lose the combined attempt at a no-hitter in the seventh inning (our GameTracker has all the action).

Sure, we don't often see no-hitters, and even more rare is a pitching being pulled from a no-hit bid. It's big news when it happens. This time was a rather unique situation, though.

Manaea had walked the bases loaded and was nearing 100 pitches when Astros shortstop Carlos Correa hit an absolute rocket to shortstop. Adam Rosales was unable to handle it and committed an error, which allowed the Astros to plate two runs. The A's lead was down to 5-2 with the tying run coming to the plate. 

Anyone watching knew two things: 

  1. There was no chance in hell Manaea could have maneuvered through the final four innings without giving up a hit or throwing like 200 pitches. 
  2. In order to keep their lead, the A's needed to go to the bullpen. 

That's how you get a pitcher pulled from a no-hitter without anyone really complaining. 

For what it's worth, the A's do have a combo no-hitter in their history. 

History wouldn't be repeated on Saturday, as Nori Aoki singled to open the Astros' seventh. The Astros already had two runs on the scoreboard, and finally they found a way to manage a hit as well.