Saturday's contest vs. Marlins rained out
WASHINGTON -- After a rain delay of nearly four hours, Saturday night's game between the Nationals and Marlins was postponed. The two teams will play a split doubleheader Sunday, with the first game beginning at 1:35 p.m., and the second game starting at 7:05 p.m.
Dan Haren will start Game 1 on Sunday afternoon, according to a team spokesman. Stephen Strasburg is expected to start Sunday night after missing his past two scheduled starts with right forearm tightness. Strasburg played catch Friday afternoon and was cleared to start by manager Davey Johnson.
The Nationals also played a split doubleheader on Tuesday after Monday night's game was postponed following the shooting at the nearby Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters.
There was hope Saturday afternoon that the rain might let up long enough for the two teams to get a few innings in. But with Strasburg set to take the mound and the prospect of more rain later in the night, Johnson said that he preferred a doubleheader on Sunday.
"I'd like to call it early and play a doubleheader," Johnson said Saturday afternoon. "It's easier on everybody."
That was eventually the result. The Nationals announced that they had postponed the game at 10:54 p.m., three hours and 49 minutes after the game's scheduled first pitch.
All gates for the 7:05 p.m. game will open 90 minutes after the last out is recorded in the first game, or at 6 p.m., whichever is later. The two games will require separate admission.
Fans with tickets to Saturday's game may use their original tickets for the 7:05 p.m. game on Sunday. Those unable to attend Sunday night's game can exchange their tickets for any Prime, Regular or Value game during the 2014 regular season, excluding Opening Day and Marquee Games. Exchanged tickets will be issued from available inventory in the closest pricing category of equal or lesser value to the original seats.
Saturday night's NatsLive Free Postgame Concert featuring Montgomery Gentry was unable to be rescheduled for Sunday.