Mother Nature continued to wreak havoc on the Marlins and Mets on Thursday, as well as Miami’s chase. Tuesday’s series opener was postponed because the Citi Field infield was unplayable following a weekend rainstorm.and Thursday’s series finale was suspended in the top of the ninth inning due to rain.
The Marlins and Mets waited out a rain delay of about three hours on Thursday, but a playable window never arrived. MLB, which makes all weather-related decisions this late in the season, has not yet officially announced when Thursday’s game will resume, although Marlins general manager Kim Ng said it was had said the match would end on Monday.
“Without going into detail, this is obviously an unfortunate incident,” Ng told the Miami Herald. “Right now we are being told that we will have to play (the remainder of the suspended match) on Monday.”
Given where we are in the schedule, there is no viable alternative to the game ending Monday, the day after the regular season is scheduled to end. The Marlins are scheduled to be in Pittsburgh to open a series with the Pirates on Friday. The Mets will host the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. The Marlins are a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs for the third wild card spot, so Thursday’s game is very important in the playoff race.
As for Thursday’s game, the Mets took a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning, but Miami scored two runs on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s double and Yuli Gurriel’s single. That gave Miami a 2-1 lead, then the rain came and the refs called for the tarp. Here is the equalizing rally:
MLB Rule 7.02(a)(5) covers suspended games. Here is the rule regarding suspending games due to weather (emphasis added):
Weather, if the game is announced before it is a regulation game, or if a the regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to gain the advantage.and the local team did not regain the lead
The visiting team (Marlins) scored one or more runs (two, to be precise) to take the lead in the top of the ninth, but the inning could not be completed, so the game is suspended rather than declared official and final. Basically, as the home team, the Mets need to have a chance to strike in the bottom of the inning after blowing the lead in the top half. That’s the rule in a nutshell.
It should be noted that it is possible that Thursday’s suspended match may not have to finish on Monday. The Marlins could clinch a playoff spot this weekend – their magic number is three – in which case the make-up game won’t be necessary. There is also a scenario in which suspended play involves all balls. A win and the Marlins are in the playoffs, a loss and they are out.