PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. _ Major League Baseball and its players' association officially announced Thursday the relocation of the Sunday, Aug. 20 game between the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals from PNC Park to Williamsport, Pa.
The game will air on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" at 7 p.m. instead of the usual 8 p.m. and coincide with the Little League World Series.
"I think it will be a great opportunity for us to connect with another generation of fans," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said in a statement.
Little League World Series participants and their parents will attend the game, which will be played at BB&T Ballpark, home of the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters.
Fans with tickets to the originally scheduled game at PNC Park will not be able to attend the game at BB&T Ballpark. Neither can LLWS ticket-holders.
Pirates season-ticket holders can receive a food-and-beverage credit equal to the value of their tickets and tickets to another game, or a refund. Single-game ticket holders can exchange their tickets for another game or receive a refund. For more information visit pirates.com/williamsport.
Pirates and Cardinals players will attend LLWS games during the day before their game that night. Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn and outfielder Randal Grichuk previously participated in the LLWS.
"Major League Baseball's greatest responsibility is to ensure that today's youth become active participants in our game as players and fans," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "The 'MLB Little League Classic' exemplifies our entire sport's commitment to building a stronger connection between young people and the national pastime."
The Pirates also announced that their Aug. 19 game against the Cardinals has been moved from 7:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m.
