eBay Deals


1 hour ago 10

ATLANTA — More than two dozen groundskeepers worked nonstop for over an hour, pouring pounds and pounds of dry sod across the rain-soaked infield, pitcher’s mound and home plate.

More than an hour and a half later, they rolled the tarp out for the first time.

The result was the opening game of the Giants’ road trip against the Braves being suspended after only an inning and a half of play and a wait of nearly three times that long.

More than two dozen groundskeepers worked nonstop for over an hour, pouring pounds and pounds of dry sod across the rain-soaked infield, pitcher’s mound and home plate. Mike Zarrilli/UPI/Shutterstock
More than an hour and a half later, they rolled the tarp out for the first time. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The result was the opening game of the Giants’ road trip against the Braves being suspended after only an inning and a half of play and a wait of nearly three times that long. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

They will resume play in the bottom of the second as part of a double-header Wednesday with Game 1 set to begin at 11 a.m. PT and the second game at its regularly scheduled 4:15 p.m.

“It’s not ideal,” manager Tony Vitello said of being forced to use Adrian Houser for only one inning. On the flip side, the Braves got only two innings out of Grant Holmes.

“It was pretty rough on those guys not to just burn a night, but those guys are amped up the entire day to throw. It was pretty difficult conditions to pitch in.”

Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter

California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

Thanks for signing up!

Both teams will be able to add a 27th man to their roster for the second game.

While Vitello said no decisions had been made, reliever Matt Gage would be a natural choice; he is on the trip and eligible to be activated from the injured list. Robbie Ray, their scheduled starter for Wednesday, would likely start the first game.

Vitello said there was no discussion before the game of starting in a delay, and with the regrettable decision to begin the game, both teams ended up burning their starting pitcher.

Both teams will be able to add a 27th man to their roster for the second game. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

The Giants had put seven men on base in two innings against Holmes, who was clearly affected by the conditions, while Houser was tagged for two runs in the bottom of the first.

Holmes twice called for a towel as he issued three walks and four hits amid the downpour that led to two runs. Braves outfielder Michael Harris II left with lower back tightness. Water began to pool around home plate, which Vitello said was the most-impacted area.

“It started to look a little soupy out there,” Vitello said.


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


Despite the extended stoppage after the top of the second inning, the game was never put into an official rain delay because the tarp was never put on the field.

“You look back on it, I’m sure everyone would have liked to try to do something different at the beginning of the game,” Vitello said. “But the rain, at least from what everybody saw was coming, wasn’t supposed to. … There wasn’t supposed to be additional rain.”

The crowd slowly trickled out, going from an upbeat in-stadium dance party to a few poncho-clad stragglers, over the course of the 110-minute delay as the Braves provided zero communication over the in-stadium screens or loudspeakers.

The crowd slowly trickled out, going from an upbeat in-stadium dance party to a few poncho-clad stragglers, over the course of the 110-minute delay as the Braves provided zero communication over the in-stadium screens or loudspeakers. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Finally, after about an hour and a half, Vitello and Walt Weiss emerged from their respective dugouts and huddled with the umpires for about 10 minutes.

“We were out there for a long time just because nobody wanted to make a rash decision,” Vitello said. “I didn’t have much to say, obviously, but those guys have experience with this stuff. They mentioned it was one of the stickier, more difficult in-between situations.”

The teams were planning on resuming play around 10 p.m. local time had the conversation ended differently. However, with an unexpected second round of precipitation, they determined the field couldn’t handle anymore rain and called off the game at 9:50 p.m.

“We were going to see if the work those guys had put in had done enough to get out there and play,” Vitello said. “It probably was. But not with more rain coming.”

The teams will be motivated to get both games in Wednesday as the heaviest rain this week isn’t forecasted to arrive until Thursday. Per the National Weather Service, thunderstorms are expected to begin around 11 a.m. and continue until Friday evening.

The Giants and Braves are scheduled to wrap up their series at 7:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, possibly making for a late arrival into Miami if the game is delayed.

While the Braves visit San Francisco next weekend, the teams only share two off days the rest of the season — Aug. 13 and Sept. 17 — each with its own complications should they need to make up a date in Atlanta.

Read Entire Article