Cubs, Pirates Postponed After 2 Long Rain Delays
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A day after needing to leave early because of dizziness, Kris Bryant returned to the Chicago Cubs' lineup.
He didn't get to play much — the game between the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed Monday night after two rain delays totaling almost 3½ hours.
No makeup date was announced.
The game was called at midnight with the score tied at 1 in the middle of the fourth inning. There was a delay of more than two hours in the bottom of the second, then was rained out after a wait of 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Bryant was hurt Sunday when he slid headfirst into second base at Milwaukee. His head struck Brewers shortstop Jean Segura's leg, and Bryant was taken out.
Bryant passed all of the necessary concussions tests and was OK to play.
"I feel a little bit better," Bryant said. "I only have one head. I only have one life. There's nothing really to joke about with that, so we're taking it really serious."
Bryant says he will now slide feet first to avoid further injury.
The rookie third baseman is hitting .246 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs in 95 games.
Manager Joe Maddon said Bryant looked "fine" during his time on the field Monday.
Both teams scored in the third.
Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single for the Cubs. Michael Morse, who joined the Pirates earlier in the day, and Gregory Polanco each doubled for Pittsburgh's run.
Starting pitchers Jon Lester of the Cubs and Francisco Liriano were taken out following the first delay.
"It had all the appearances of a really interesting game and the weather would not cooperate," Maddon said.
Lester said he was trying to stay loose during the initial delay but once it stretched beyond an hour, Maddon made the call to end his day after 1 2-3 innings.
"He didn't want to risk anything and like I've always said he's the manager and he makes the decisions," Lester said. "You can argue with him all you want but at the end of the day it's like arguing with your dad, you're not going to change his mind.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: C Miguel Montero (sprained left thumb) is expected to be activated from the disabled list sometime during a four-game series against San Francisco that starts Thursday. He is 1 for 7 in two games on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee.
ROSTER MOVES
Cubs: OF Matt Szczur was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to give Chicago a full complement of five players on the bench while LHP Clayton Richard was designated for assignment. RHP Dan Haren will take Richard's spot in the rotation Wednesday night against the Pirates after being acquired last Friday from Miami in a trade.
Pirates: Morse started at first base, three days after being acquired for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade. OF Jaff Decker was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
LHP J.A. Happ (4-6, 4.64) will make his first start for the Pirates on Tuesday night after being acquired last Friday from Seattle in a trade. Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (11-6, 2.62) is 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last eight starts.
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