Game Five Postponed At 2-2 Tie

UPDATE: Game five has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The Phillies had a 2-0 lead. Then the rain came down. 2-1 lead. Harder. Stronger. 2-2. Game stopped.

Major League Baseball has postponed game five due to rain at a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth. Cole Hamels will lead off the game when it’s re-started. Commissioner Bud Selig has not given a time for the game to begin again.

Selig also said he could’ve stopped the game before the bottom of the sixth, meaning the Phils could’ve had a 2-1 lead with the game stopped. (Of course, I don’t want the Phils winning the world championship on a shortened game.) Instead, Hamels and the Phils had to play through the rain, and the Rays scored the tying run, before the game was finally halted.

Frankly, this is a black eye for baseball, and especially for Selig, who has once again proved incompetent as leader of this organization. The game should’ve been stopped before the sixth. Throw out the rulebook. This is the World Series. And it’s ridiculous — absolutely freakin’ ridiculous that this whole charade took place so late.

Forget homerism. The rain created a harsh atmosphere way before the sixth. And now the Phils have a tie game, have little momentum, and complete uncertainty as to when the game will be resumed. Some fans will be shut out of the possible clincher. Hamels may not pitch again this season. And now a huge risk is run — the Phils suddenly find themselves needing to win, and soon, because Tampa awaits. Now it’s confusion ruling the roost, handled horribly by the idiot upstairs. I’m sorry Bud Selig, but you struck out this time.

Associated Press photo