Due to continued power failures in a bank of lights on the third base side of the field, the opening game of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers was suspended in the fifth inning with the Nats leading 3-2.
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The initial delay occurred in the fourth inning and lasted one hour 22 minutes, ultimately forcing Zimmermann and Dodgers’ starter Mike Bolsinger out of the game.
Friday’s game was delayed with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning when a bank of lights went out. Players were immediately removed from the field. Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann did not return after the lengthy delay.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before”, Zimmermann said. Roark then doubled to lead off the fifth and scored when third baseman Yunel Escobar followed with a two-run homer to left off Chin-hui Tsao to give the Nationals a 3-2 edge. Power was restored, but not for long as they went out again, leading to another delay after the top of the fifth inning. The regularly scheduled game will follow at 4:05 p.m., and we’re guessing all parties are hoping for a conclusion before the lights are needed. So it’s only natural that the start of the Dodgers’ 10-game road trip, their first game after the All-Star break, couldn’t be completed on Friday night. However, the Nationals say fans tickets from Friday’s game will be able to exchange them for a future game, subject to availability.
Washington used an RBI groundout by Bryce Harper to go up 1-0 in the third inning. The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth thanks to a two-run homerun from Adrian Gonzalez, his 19th of the season. The Fresno State product allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits over six frames and is 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA in six home turns.
Dodgers: OF Carl Crawford, who’s on the 60-day DL with a right oblique strain, will play with Triple-A Oklahoma City through Sunday.
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The umpiring crew chose to halt the game after conferring with L.A. manager Don Mattingly and Washington counterpart Matt Williams. Washington is 4-7 in his 11 outings.
