BOSTON — The tarp came on the field at Fenway Park midway through the sixth inning Friday with the Miami Marlins trailing the Boston Red Sox by three runs.
One hour and 25 minutes later, the first game of this three-game series was called.
Boston 5, Miami 2.
According to MLB, “A game is considered a regulation game — also known as an ‘official game’ — once the visiting team has made 15 outs (five innings) and the home team is leading, or once the home team has made 15 outs regardless of score.”
So once the game was put into a delay before the bottom of the sixth, the only options were to wait out the weather or call the game.
The weather forecast in Boston called for steady rain until at least 9 a.m. Saturday. There was already a steady stream of rain from first pitch Friday, with the weather intensifying as the game progressed. The infield dirt had large puddles by the fourth inning, primarily on the left side.
“It’s a little frustrating,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “And I think what makes it a little more frustrating is you know the weather’s coming. They tell you that before the game. You knew you were only going to play a partial game.”
The teams are scheduled to play at 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 p.m. Sunday, and this weekend in Boston is the only time the Marlins face the Red Sox this season.
Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro opened scoring for the Marlins with his first home run of the season — a two-run shot to right field that went a projected 381 feet in the second inning. The Red Sox tied it in the third on a J.D. Martinez two-run double off Cody Poteet and then took the lead with an Alex Verdugo go-ahead three-run home run with one out in the fifth that ended Poteet’s time on the mound.
Poteet, who appeared to be dealing with a blister issue in the later innings, gave up a career-worst five earned runs while pitching just 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six batters.
The Marlins had a two-out rally going in the top of the sixth when Garrett Cooper, Corey Dickerson and Alfaro drew consecutive walks against reliever Adam Ottavino to load the bases before Isan Diaz struck out swinging to end the inning.
