COLORADO SPRINGS, Col. – The Tacoma Rainiers’ game in Colorado Springs was postponed Tuesday because of smoke and ash from nearby forest fires blowing into Security Service Field.
The Rainiers were taking batting practice 90 minutes before the scheduled start when the wind started blowing smoke over the field.
“The wind just shifted, and the cloud of smoke came over us,” said Tacoma manager Daren Brown.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on July 22.
This was not the first fire-related postponement of Brown’s managerial career.
“It happened to me managing in the California League in 2004,” Brown said. “We were playing in Lancaster, and they had forest fires. We missed a couple of games – the air quality was so bad it wasn’t good to be outside.”
Tacoma lost all three games in Colorado Springs.
SHORT HOPS
Even with the postponement, the Rainiers expect to start Danny Hultzen on Thursday at Cheney Stadium, and there is a good chance he could be matched up against former Mariners ace Jamie Moyer. Moyer signed a minor league contract with Toronto and will join Las Vegas today.
ON TAP
The Rainiers return home to face the Las Vegas 51s in a three-game series, with the first game set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Cheney Stadium. Tacoma will start Blake Beavan (1-0, 3.00 ERA) against Las Vegas left-hander Bill Murphy (3-2, 5.44).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Rainiers.
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