ALCS Game 4 gets postponed after heavy rain hits Cleveland: It never cleared out
CLEVELAND — Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians was postponed because of rain Friday night.Major League Baseball was hoping there would be a three-hour window of dry weather to get the game in, but the showers never let up.“It never cleared out the way they were hoping.It started to get later in the hour, and MLB and I think both clubs did everything they could to try to get it in,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
“Made the most sense, like, at this point and this hour, with no guarantee that there wasn’t another band coming.”The teams will resume their playoff series Saturday at 8 p.m.ET, with Game 5 also at Progressive Field on Sunday at 5 p.m., and Game 6, if necessary, on Monday at 8 p.m.
in St.Petersburg, Florida.“We knew how many days ago that today was going to be a challenge.
Numerous weather calls, numerous back and forths, and ultimately MLB decided we needed to wait it out,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.“Obviously it’s an important game, and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to play the games when they’re scheduled.
But MLB ultimately decided to wait this one out.”It is the first time an ALCS game has been postponed since 2019, when the New York Yankees were hosting the Houston Astros.The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon.Both teams will stick with their scheduled Game 4 starters from Friday.Cleveland will go with a bullpen game, with Shawn Armstrong being the opener.
Nick Martinez will pitch for Tampa Bay.It will be Armstrong’s fifth appearance this postseason.The right-hander has allowed only one hit in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.Armstrong thought his season was done in late July when he strained a calf muscle, but he returned during the final week of the regular season.Armstrong was drafted by Cleveland in ...