The Orioles were in position to pull off an unlikely sweep of the reigning World Series Champions down in Washington D.C. yesterday afternoon, leading 5-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning on the strength of RBI by Bryan Holaday, Hanser Alberto, and Anthony Santander. This after 11-0 and 5-3 wins in the first two games of the series, on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Then, despite clear skies over the large majority of the DC-Baltimore area, a stray storm popped up over Gnats Park. The deluge wasn’t expected to last for more than a few minutes, so no big deal, right? After all, grounds crews across the major and minor leagues have been perfecting the high-tech task of rolling out a tarp for decades. Cover up the infield, wait for the rain to stop, then continue play.
Alas, the Washington grounds crew had some other ideas…
Part one of the best/worst thing I've ever seen happen during a baseball game. Turn the volume on, the Os commentary is amazing. pic.twitter.com/Q39Me3E93E
— Heather Linington-Noble (@AlainnFocail) August 9, 2020
Part two of "OHHHHHH NO, GROUNDS CREW!!!!" pic.twitter.com/BWCO7so7Ay
— Heather Linington-Noble (@AlainnFocail) August 9, 2020
And the third and final segment of the hardest thing I've laughed at since @DSmittyJr took Nico Goodrum for 17 runs in a single inning during the players tournament. pic.twitter.com/QEUtQ3GdEj
— Heather Linington-Noble (@AlainnFocail) August 9, 2020
The commentary from Scott Garceau and Ben McDonald really added to the ridiculousness of the entire situation.
Of course, nothing like this is complete without Yakkety Sax.
well it had to be done: pic.twitter.com/9qouLNQrOZ
— Ranting Oriole Bird (@RantingOriole) August 9, 2020
After the rain stopped, the grounds crew (who we do absolutely feel for in this instance…it’s fun to laugh at them, but they are mostly just kids trying to do a job) tried to get things playable again.
The tarp is off and the grounds crew is working on getting the field back in game shape. Hope everyone dries off quickly, it was pouring! #Nationals pic.twitter.com/a8DYInwbrr
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) August 9, 2020
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Although the Orioles have already been on the wrong side of a rain-shortened game this year, the fact that they were leading this one after five and a half isn’t enough to chalk it up in the win category. Due to the fact that there was some mechanical/human error, this game will need to be finished.
Per MLB rules, today's game between the Nats and O's has been suspended.
It will resume on Friday at OPACY. pic.twitter.com/cTYEPn0Mev
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 9, 2020
The Nationals are already scheduled to come to Baltimore this weekend, so the game will be finished prior to Friday’s game.
Just one more ridiculous thing to add to the 2020 list.
