Phillies vs. Braves Game Postponed Amid Rainy Conditions
The Philadelphia Phillies' matchup against the Atlanta Braves, originally set for Wednesday night, has been postponed due to persistent rain in the area.
In response, the Phillies announced that the game will be rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday. The first game is slated to begin at 1:05 p.m., followed by the second at 6:45 p.m.
Fans holding tickets for the Wednesday game can use them for the early game on Thursday.
According to the NEXT Weather forecast, Philadelphia is expected to experience its heaviest rainfall during the evening commute, with steady rain anticipated throughout the night. This day marks the wettest of the week, with rain likely to continue affecting the region until the weekend.
On Tuesday, the Phillies secured a shutout victory against the Braves, thanks to six solid innings from pitcher Ranger Suárez. This marked a significant achievement, as it was Atlanta's first shutout in 43 games, despite Bryce Harper being struck on the right elbow by a fastball from Braves starter Spencer Strider.
Harper was hit by a 95.6 mph pitch in the first inning and subsequently exited the game. The Phillies reported that he sustained a right elbow contusion, but X-rays returned negative. An update on Harper's condition is still pending from the team.
“When your best hitter gets hit like that, there's always a concern,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson following Tuesday's game. “You're always concerned, but we'll just have to see tomorrow.”
The Phillies expressed their belief that Strider did not intentionally hit Harper, a sentiment echoed by Strider himself after the game.
“Certainly not trying to hit him. I thought in the moment, I just assumed he had a guard on and was just upset that I hit him. Then I saw him in pain. That was tough. I'm definitely relieved he's OK,” Strider remarked. “He's one of the best players this century. He needs to be on the field. It's best for the game. It's good for us, good to compete against him. Of course, I'm not a complete sociopath, so I have some empathy. I do feel bad for him, to see a person in pain that I caused.”
The Phillies currently boast a record of 35-19, leading the National League and holding the second-best record in Major League Baseball. They maintain a 1.5-game advantage over the New York Mets in the NL East and a 9.5-game lead over the Braves.
