NewsReds-Pirates game postponed
No makeup date announced for rained out contestBy Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
04/10/09 8:15 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- Rain showers and a pessimistic forecast on Friday night forced the postponement of the series opener between the Reds and Pirates. The game's start was delayed 20 minutes before the decision was made. No makeup date has been announced. Johnny Cueto, who was slated to start for the Reds on Friday, will slide back and pitch on Saturday. Pittsburgh is skipping its Friday starter, Jeff Karstens, and going with lefty Paul Maholm against Cueto. The rainout won't drastically alter the Reds' rotation, but it does mean that Micah Owings will have to wait a little longer to make his first start for Cincinnati. Owings, who was Saturday's scheduled Reds starter, now is slated to start on Wednesday at Milwaukee. "He will be in the bullpen for a couple of days," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll move one guy and try to save everybody else and put Micah in the 'pen." Owings, who hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since July with the Diamondbacks, took the development in stride. "Mother Nature," Owings said. "It happens. It's one of those things you can't control. When I get out there, I will stick with what I can do and have fun with it." As for making up for the game, the Pirates return to Cincinnati twice in 2009 -- from Aug. 31-Sept. 2 and the season finale from Oct. 2-4. Both teams have an off-day on Sept. 3. Baker did not want his team to play a doubleheader on Saturday. The series is scheduled to continue at 1:10 p.m. ET. "I think it's too early on my guys and too early on my pitchers," Baker said. "They didn't ask us, but we talked about it." Fans with tickets for Friday's game should keep their ticket stubs as a rain check that can be exchanged for the rescheduled game or another regular-season game, subject to availability. This was only the third postponement in seven seasons since Great American Ball Park opened. The last one was a game against the Marlins on May 15, 2008.Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
