"COMBINED ON A NO-HITTER" ISN'T SOMETHING FOR THE RECORD BOOKS?

But the way pitchers are throwing harder these days, and thus on a pitch count of some kind, maybe it's time to create a new page.

During the regular season, didn't three Houston pitchers combine on a no-hitter against the Yankees?

That, by the way, makes for a compelling story.  Isn't any story involving the Yankees with a gaudy record and a home-run hitter on the way to three score and some home runs compelling?

Now five Houston pitchers have combined on a no-hitter in the World Series, and the Guardians of the Illuminated Manuscripts are in full cry.

The Houston Astros threw a combined no-hitter en route to a 5-0 win over the Phillies.

The World Series is now tied at 2 games a piece.

What an incredible moment in baseball history that we should all be celebrating.

Instead, we’re arguing about whether it’s a real no-hitter.

Who gives a crap?

These are the same sad sacks that complained about how Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader’s no-no wasn’t real.

Did the other team get a hit? No?

Then, it’s a no-hitter.

End of story.

The statistical purity tests are so vigorous because the stakes are so small, to steal from a quip about faculty politics.