CLEVELAND (AP) — Heavy rain and wet field conditions forced the postponement of Tuesday night's game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians, who will make it up as part of a traditional doubleheader Wednesday.
The first game will start at 1:10 p.m.
With thousands of fans inside Progressive Field, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and GM Mike Chernoff were part of a group that inspected the grass in left field at 7:30 p.m. before the postponement was announced 40 minutes later.
About three hours before the scheduled 6:40 start, violent thunderstorms rolled into the area and a tornado warning was issued, forcing ballpark employees to take shelter in the ballpark's lower level.
A hallway connecting Arizona's dugout and clubhouse flooded with water.
The postponement delayed the debut of Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who was set to make his season debut after being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Rodriquez will now start Wednesday's second game.
Rodriguez signed a four-year, $80 million contract with Arizona in December. He was expected to fill a major void in the club's starting rotation before feeling discomfort in his shoulder during a spring training game in March.
He only expected to miss a few weeks, but wound up having an early setback in rehab and being sidelined for five months.
The rainout also means the AL Central-leading Guardians will play two doubleheaders in three days, further taxing their pitching staff. Cleveland opens a four-game series against second-place Minnesota on Friday with a day-night doubleheader.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (strained left adductor) was placed on the 10-day injured list after getting hurt while running to first in Monday's game. Moreno returned to Phoenix to be checked by the team's medical staff. Rookie Adrian Del Castillo was recalled from Triple-A Reno to take his spot.
Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (shoulder tightness) threw a bullpen session and then met with pitching coach Carl Willis and head trainer Lonnie Soloff. It hasn't been determined when he'll make his next start.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Ben Lively (10-6, 3.42 ERA) will start the opener with Carlos Carrasco (3-9, 5.53) pitching Game 2 for Cleveland. Arizona will start Brandon Pfaadt (5-6, 3.97) in the opener followed by Rodriguez.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Leo Agozzino attempts to push water off the warning track as members of the Arizona Diamondbacks warm up before a rain-delayed baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The infield is covered with a tarp before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.
Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.
Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.
Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.
Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.
His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.
Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.
A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.
The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.
Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.
It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.
Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.
Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.
BREWERS' MOVE
The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.
UP NEXT
RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea (48) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, and Willy Adames, right, collide after Adames caught a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
