Rain delayed the start of Friday night’s series opener between the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, pushing the scheduled first pitch back by approximately 20 minutes.
The White Sox announced the delay shortly after 6 p.m. local time, citing an “approaching wave of rain.” The team initially planned for the game to begin at approximately 7 p.m.
The delay came as thunderstorms and rain moved toward the Chicago area, forcing the teams to adjust their pregame plans while waiting for conditions to improve.
Luis Robert Jr. returns to Chicago
The weather delay added another wrinkle to an already notable night at Rate Field.
Friday marked the return of outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to Chicago for the first time since the White Sox traded him to the Mets in January. In exchange, Chicago received utility player Luisangel Acuña and minor-league pitcher Truman Pauley.
Robert spent several seasons with the White Sox and became one of the organization’s most recognizable players before the trade. His return gave the series opener an added storyline for Chicago fans.
Burke and Manaea scheduled to start
The pitching matchup featured Chicago right-hander Sean Burke against New York left-hander Sean Manaea.
Burke entered the game looking to build on a strong stretch of performances, while Manaea was scheduled to take the mound for the Mets as they opened a three-game series on the South Side.
Despite the weather interruption, neither team was initially facing a postponement. The White Sox expected the delay to be brief rather than a lengthy suspension.
Elvis Night festivities also affected
The game was also scheduled as Elvis Night at Rate Field, adding special pregame entertainment to the evening.
The traditional festivities include parachutists landing in the outfield, and the White Sox expected the event to take place despite the weather-related adjustment.
Fans were therefore left waiting for both the weather and the entertainment schedule to clear before baseball could begin.
A short delay, then baseball
The White Sox’s announcement indicated that the rain was expected to cause only a relatively minor interruption. With the tarp not yet covering the field when the delay was announced, the club anticipated getting the game underway after the approaching rain passed.
The matchup ultimately proceeded Friday night, with Chicago rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat New York 6-4. Jake Rogers delivered the decisive blow with a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning.
What began as a rainy delay ended with a dramatic finish for the White Sox and a memorable return to Chicago for Robert.
Source: chicago.suntimes
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