Shortly after the Nationals' game against the Mets began Tuesday, rain began falling over Citi Field and the surrounding area. Following a delay of roughly two hours, umpires suspended the game. It will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader Wednesday at 4:10 p.m. ET.
The suspended game will go the full nine innings, followed by a seven-inning second game. The first game will resume with the Nationals leading, 3-1, and a runner on first base in the second inning.
The Nationals got on the board in the first inning when Juan Soto hit his 19th home run of the season with an opposite-field, three-run dinger off a Carlos Carrasco changeup. It was his ninth career homer at Citi Field, his second most at any visiting stadium behind only Citizens Bank Park (12). Soto made his return to the starting lineup Tuesday after tweaking his right knee.
Paolo Espino, who got the nod for his 10th start of the season, allowed one run on two hits in the first frame. Joe Ross will take over for Espino in Game 1, while the Nationals are still determining their pitching plans for Game 2. The Mets will likely resume Game 1 with lefty Rich Hill on the mound, while Marcus Stroman will start Game 2.
“I wasn’t aware of this type of storm or this type of rain,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “I did hear that we were probably going to get some rain between 7:30 and 8 [p.m.], somewhere in that window, but I don’t think anybody was aware that it was going to be like this.”