Wednesday's rain causes doubleheader Thursday

BOSTON -- With nothing but rain in the forecast, the Red Sox-Rays game for Wednesday night was postponed and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday.

Fans who had tickets for Wednesday's game can use them for Game 1, slated for 1:05 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Dustin Pedroia bobbleheads will be given away to all fans who attend Game 1.

Game 2 will be played at the originally scheduled time of 7:10 p.m. ET.

The Red Sox will go with Jake Peavy in Game 1. Lefty Felix Doubront, who has been inconsistent and who was supposed to start Wednesday night, will start the nightcap.

"Personal preference of maybe a little bit more known commodity as far as dependability and getting deeper into the [first] game," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Not to say it's always a guarantee, but that's what you go by, knowing you've got a guy that can hopefully keep a bullpen from getting overexposed early and look to have guys fresh for Game 2."

The Red Sox are eligible to add a 26th roster spot for Game 2. Presumably, that will be a pitcher.

The decision to postpone Wednesday's game was made more than three hours before the scheduled first pitch.

According to the Red Sox professional weather service, Telvent DTN, the forecast called for a sustained period of rain throughout the afternoon and evening, with temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

If nothing else, the first month of the season -- which for Boston is now over -- included a lot of inclement weather for the Red Sox.

"Man, mother nature, what's going on?" Red Sox DH David Ortiz said. "It will go away. Probably about a week before we get back into that baseball weather. [When] the weather heats up, Papi heats up."