Rays game in Kansas City vs. Royals postponed amidst tornado warnings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Royals scheduled for Monday night was postponed about an hour before the first pitch as tornado sirens blared across the Kansas City metro area.
The four-game series is the only time the teams meet Kauffman Stadium this season, so they will make the game up with a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.
Game 1 will be at 1:10 p.m. and Game 2 at 7:10 p.m.
Royals manager Ned Yost decided to start Chris Young in the opener and put Edinson Volquez, his scheduled starter for Monday night, on the mound in the nightcap. Relief pitcher Aaron Brooks will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to serve as the 26th man.
Matt Moore will make his second start in his return from Tommy John surgery in the opener for Tampa Bay. Matt Andriese will be summoned from Triple-A Durham to start Game 2 as the 26th man.
Alex Colome, who was scheduled to start Monday, will work out of the Rays' bullpen.
The decision to postpone Monday night's game was made after about 3 inches of rain pounded Kauffman Stadium in less than an hour. It fell from the dark, foreboding sky with such intensity that right field quickly turned into a massive lake and left field a swampy pond.
The warning track lining the ballpark was saturated, the white tarp covering the infield was buffeted by 50 mph wind gusts, and water cascaded down the dugout steps.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez even took a moment to sneak out of the clubhouse, where the team was taking shelter, to film a video of the storm and post it on social media.
There were reports of trees down and other damage across the metropolitan area.
