Tigers-Pirates game canceled due to inclement weather

By Tom Singer

March 24, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. -- When the clock struck 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday at McKechnie Field, instead of a first pitch, the Pirates had a third rainout.

The Bucs' exhibition with Detroit was promptly called off as morning-long rains that had soaked the field did not abate.

Both teams simply delayed their pitching rotations, with Monday's scheduled starters now expected to go in Tuesday's games. The Tigers' Rick Porcello will face the Braves in Lakeland, Fla., while Pittsburgh lefty Wandy Rodriguez goes against the Blue Jays at home in Bradenton.

Mark Melancon and Justin Wilson, who were set to follow Rodriguez to the mound on Monday, will do so Tuesday.

The three rainouts have cost the Pirates at least 20,000 in attendance, and will prevent their total gate from breaking 100,000 and the club record. With two remaining home exhibitions scheduled, the Bucs have drawn a total of 75,952. Their spring record of 93,433 was set last year.

Up next: With the Bucs simply pushing back their pitchers, Jeff Locke misses out on his first Grapefruit League start in nearly a month. Instead of facing Toronto in McKechnie Field in the 1:05 p.m. ET game, Locke will go in a Minor League game at Pirate City, for either three innings or 50 pitches. The game can be heard live on Gameday Audio.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.