DETROIT � Twins players voted Thursday to sit out their scheduled game against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
The teams were scheduled to begin a four-game series here, but the first game was postponed when Twins players met and decided to take part in a nationwide pro sports strike that has temporarily shut down the NBA and NHL playoffs.
The game will be rescheduled as part of a Friday doubleheader, starting at 12:10 p.m. Both games are scheduled for seven innings.
Friday is MLB's rescheduled "Jackie Robinson Day," where all players wear Robinson's No. 42, the only number retired by all major league teams.
The Twins issued this statement: "The Minnesota Twins remain committed to using our platforms to push for racial justice and equality. Therefore, we fully respect our players for their decision to not play tonight's game versus the Detroit Tigers. The recent shooting of Jacob Blake, a mere three months after the killing of George Floyd, shows again that real change is necessary and far overdue in our country, and it is our responsibility to continue playing a role in efforts to affect meaningful reform.
"We stand in solidarity with the Black community and, as full partners with others in the Twin Cities and beyond, we are committed to creating the change we want to see in the world � where everyone is protected, safe and welcome. There is no place for racism, inequality or injustice in our society."
Three other Thursday major league games _ Boston-Toronto, Philadelphia-Washington, Texas-Oakland _ have also been postponed.
The shutdown is a players' protest to show solidarity following the shooting of Blake in Kenosha, Wis. Blake was shot seven times in the back by a police officer attempting to subdue him.
The pro sports protests started Wednesday, and the Twins finished their three game series in Cleveland with a night game. Many of the players were unaware of the protests before that game started, and it went on as scheduled.
However, given more complete information by Thursday, players met and decided on the protest. The Tigers also played on Wednesday night; according to mlb.com, Tigers players also voted to not play Thursday.
Twin president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli were set to meet via Zoom with reporters later Thursday.
