The Yankees’ bid for a sweep in Baltimore got shoved back Thursday night, with the series finale against the Orioles moving into a delay before first pitch.
The game was originally scheduled for 6:35 PM EST, but the Orioles announced after discussion with Major League Baseball and the National Weather Service that “tonight’s game will start in a short delay.” Later, Erik Boland reported that first pitch is now set for 6:55.
If the delay stretches long enough, Baltimore said the postgame festivities would be canceled. Those festivities are a Christian Faith Night postgame concert.
When the game does get going, Gerrit Cole is slated to start for the Yankees, with Kyle Bradish going for Baltimore. Cole has been rolling, while Bradish has been solid against New York, carrying a 2-2 record and a 3.40 ERA against the Yankees, though they got him back in May.
New York is trying to finish off its first series sweep since the All-Star break after taking the first two games. Both wins came in the kind of late, tight spots the Yankees have leaned on all season. Since June 1, their offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of categories, but they’ve still found a way to win 28 games when trailing or tied in the seventh inning or later, the most in baseball, according to Katie Sharp.
On Wednesday, George Lombard Jr. came through with the deciding RBI, an infield single with the bases loaded.
The weather, though, has thrown another wrinkle into the night, and it comes at a bad time for both clubs. This is the Yankees’ final trip to Baltimore this season, and they don’t have an off day to absorb the delay. They head home next to face the Blue Jays, who are scorching right now.
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