The Giants’ series-opening game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday was suspended due to inclement weather.
With rain coming down and infield conditions deteriorating, the game was halted after the top of the second inning with the Giants leading 3-2. After a nearly two-hour delay, the decision was made to suspend the game and resume it on Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET). The second game of the series is set to begin at its regularly scheduled time of 7:15 p.m. (ET).
With the split doubleheader, the Giants will be allowed to add another player to the roster, likely a pitcher, for the second game. The Sacramento River Cats, the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, are in Oklahoma City.
Rain pelted the ballpark during Tuesday’s game as the Giants built a lead on RBIs from Matt Chapman, Bryce Eldridge, and Jung Hoo Lee. The delay began at roughly 8 p.m. (ET) before the bottom of the second inning, when groundskeepers began work to make the infield more playable.
“We were out there for a long time, just because no one wanted to make a rash decision,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “I didn’t have much say, obviously, but those guys got experience with this stuff, and they mentioned it was kind of one of the stickier situations, or more difficult in-between type situations. But I think as it started to rain harder and harder, the answer was kind of there.”
Giants starting pitcher Adrian Houser allowed two earned runs in the first inning, including a 473-foot solo shot – the longest homer in the majors this season – to center field by Braves catcher Drake Baldwin that tied the game 1-1. Houser threw 29 pitches, but his night was done after the long delay.
It was unclear which pitcher the Giants will use once game one of the series resumes.
Robbie Ray is scheduled to start Wednesday’s second game for the Giants against Braves righty JR Ritchie. But Vitello hinted that those plans might change, with Ray potentially taking the mound for the resumption of the suspended game.
“We’ll kind of get organized and arrange what we want to do with (Ray) first,” Vitello said. “Then if there are any moves that we’ll make — we’ll obviously be able to add a player in that second game, we’ll see who that is — and it could affect how we manage. Are we going to use a starter in both of those games? Obviously, Robbie will be one of them, or try to manage things with the bullpen.”
Landen Roupp is slated to face Braves righty Martín Pérez on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
There is a chance for more rain on Wednesday and Thursday. According to forecasts, there is a 24% chance of precipitation on Wednesday night and a 73% chance on Thursday.