Dodgers-Orioles Game Postponed By Rain
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The rainout of Friday night's game between the Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles provided slumping Los Angeles with a second straight day off, although it didn't feel that way to manager Don Mattingly.
Los Angeles got in batting practice before the rain started. The game never got underway and was finally called after a delay of nearly two hours.
The Dodgers arrived in Baltimore on Thursday, so they've gone two straight days without playing a game.
"Today really wasn't really a day off," Mattingly said.
Given that the Dodgers arrived at the clubhouse around 3:30 and didn't leave until shortly before 9, he had a point.
This is the Dodgers' only visit to Camden Yards this season, so the teams will play a split-doubleheader on Saturday. The first game will start at 1:05 p.m. and the second at 7:05 p.m.
Los Angeles hasn't visited Camden Yards since 2002. The teams also met in California in 2004.
The Dodgers entered the game mired in a four-game losing streak. Los Angeles scored only seven runs during the skid, which included a three-game sweep by the visiting San Diego Padres.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Friday night, will start Saturday afternoon against Baltimore's Jason Hammel. Josh Beckett will start for the Los Angeles in the nightcap against left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.
"Puts guys on the same time," Mattingly said. "Gives Ryu an extra day, so he will be on regular rest."
Baltimore is in the midst of a nine-game homestand that began with a series win over Tampa Bay. After facing AL East foes Boston, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay in succession, getting ready for the Dodgers and interleague play was quite a change for the Orioles.
"It's a real challenge for your time," manager Buck Showalter. "We were here until well after midnight (Thursday) and today spent the whole day trying to gather the information our players need to know. It was one of those days where you close your door from noon to 3 trying to get everything done."
The Orioles are quite familiar with two of the hottest Dodgers, Adrian Gonzalez (.407 batting average) and Carl Crawford (.375), both of whom played with Boston last season.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
