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BOB NIGHTENGALE
MLB

'It could have backfired': Atlanta's Brian Snitker knew pulling Ian Anderson was risky with no-hitter intact

ATLANTA — ”You sure?’’

Atlanta starter Ian Anderson didn’t protest the decision Friday night. He just wanted to make sure his manager was making the right call, here.

Here he was, a 23-year-old throwing a no-hitter in the World Series, with visions of Don Larsen dancing in his head, and is manager was taking him out of the biggest game of his life.

He had pitched only five innings. Thrown only 76 pitches. He was on such an adrenaline rush, and being only 23, felt like he could go all night-long.

Sorry, Snitker, 66, who’s old enough to be Anderson’s grandfather, wasn’t going to change his mind.

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