The Yankees’ last weekend of the regular season is getting shuffled by the weather, and Friday has suddenly turned into a two-game day at Yankee Stadium.
MLB moved Saturday night’s Yankees-Orioles game because of an incoming nor’easter, setting up a single-admission doubleheader on Friday. Game 1 is scheduled for 4:05 p.m., with Game 2 set for no earlier than 7:05 p.m. If the opener runs long, the second game would begin about 30 minutes after the first one ends, provided that finish comes after 6:35 p.m.
Aaron Boone said the forecast left little room for debate.
“I’m hearing the weather’s awful on Saturday,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Mother Nature does its thing, and we got to adjust and adapt.”
The change also pushed Hall of Fame left-hander CC Sabathia’s number retirement ceremony from Saturday to before Friday’s opener. Boone added that Sunday’s regular-season finale could also be affected.
“Saturday looks pretty bad as it seems like it spills into Sunday some, too, so we’ll see,” Boone said.
The Yankees and Orioles were already headed into a final series with the Yankees’ playoff spot settled, but the club still doesn’t want to limp into next week’s Wild Card Series on the back of rainouts. New York will host Boston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
The team’s announcement also laid out the logistics for Friday’s makeup. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. for fans with valid tickets, and distribution of the scheduled promotional item, the Josh Hart Yankees Bobblehead, will begin then for the first 18,000 guests.
Fans were told to arrive by 3 p.m. for the Sabathia ceremony and Monument Park plaque unveiling.
Tickets for Saturday’s game will not be valid for Friday’s doubleheader. Fans who bought tickets for Saturday can exchange them for another similar regular-season game at Yankee Stadium, subject to availability, through the Yankees’ rain check policy and online only.
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