OAKLAND, Calif. Nico Hischier Jersey . - Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon walked toward shortstop and his right foot sunk some two inches, causing him to turn his right ankle. That was minor, yet everybody involved in the postponed game between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics on Friday night feared the worst if they had tried to play on a rain-soaked field. Even the umpiring crew deemed the conditions too dangerous. McClendon had his doubts the field could be ready for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch Saturday. "Thats probably the worst conditions Ive seen in all my years in baseball. Its not safe," McClendon said. "It was just a safety issue more than anything. They made the right decision." David Rinetti, As vice-president of stadium operations, said the tarp was kept off the field overnight in an effort to let it dry out after a week of heavy rains in the drought-starved Bay Area but an unexpected downpour caused further problems and the grounds crew worked tirelessly on the infield dirt from 7 a.m. until the game was called about the time of scheduled first pitch at 7:05 p.m. A delay had previously been announced. "Unfortunate misinterpretation of the forecast," Oakland general manager Billy Beane said. The As use a weather consultant to help make decisions during the wet weather and regarding use of the tarp. Rinetti said one-third of an inch of rain hit the area and the infield was under water when officials arrived Friday. The tarp went back on at about 4:35 p.m. when a steady rain began again. "Over the last week weve had probably more rain at the facility than weve had as long as Ive been here, which is many, many years," Rinetti said. "The field has taken a significant hit all week, and weve been working with a weather consultant get as much up to date information as possible. We had information last night that there was going to be a break in the storm. And because of that we wanted to use that opportunity to help dry out the field. Unfortunately we were wrong on the amount of rain, and we got about a third of an inch of rain last night." Players on both sides decided to play one game Saturday afternoon rather than a split doubleheader, which will be played later. Felix Hernandez (1-0) will start as scheduled for Seattle against Dan Straily, who had been set to go Friday in his season debut. "Prepare to pitch tomorrow," Hernandez said. "That happens." Mariners athletic trainer Rick Griffin recalled a time in Chicago in the late 90s when Seattle played on a soggy field and lost one player to a groin injury and another to a pulled hamstring, prompting manager Lou Piniella to tell everyone, "Nobody run hard," Griffin said, quoting the former skipper. This marked Oaklands third weather-related game to be called off in seven days after the preseason Bay Bridge finale against the Giants was cancelled last Saturday. Tuesdays game was also postponed by rain and made up Wednesday as part of a day-night doubleheader. For the Mariners, it was another strange visit to the rundown Oakland Coliseum. Last June 16, a clogged pipe caused a sewage backup and flooding on the bottom floor of the ballpark that sent the Mariners and As scrambling around in towels. They headed for higher ground, to shower in the Oakland Raiders locker room. A hazmat crew inspected the affected areas for E-coli and a huge cleanup operation ensued — including the installation of new carpeting and the removal of some lockers in the visiting clubhouse to repair water-damaged walls with new sheet rock and wooden supports. In addition, new drywall was put in about a foot above the floor. New cabinets were needed in the visiting training room, and a new dining table and vanity in the nearby umpires room. Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik considers the incidents separate. He is more concerned with playing baseball. "Its a dated facility, what can you say?" Zduriencik said. "Its unusual. Very unusual. But they just didnt get the tarp down is what they said. They couldnt get the field ready. Well see what happens. They said theyll work on it all night and what that means, well have to see. But they have a lot of work to do to get it ready." Travis Zajac Jersey . -- Two out of three aint bad. Andy Greene Jersey . "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" One day earlier, though, fellow Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri wasnt so sure his home and native land could pull off the win against the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament.CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has said all season that Carlos Santana will hit. That faith is finally being rewarded. Santanas leadoff homer in the fourth inning lifted Cleveland to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night and continued a hot June for a hitter who struggled for the first two months. "It was inevitable," Francona said. "Hes too good a hitter." The win, which was also sparked by Asdrubal Cabreras two-run homer in the first, moved the Indians (36-35) over the .500 mark. Although Santana is hitting .191 for the season, hes batting .333 (13 for 39) with three homers and nine RBIs in June. "The good thing is, its not just singles, hes going to hit home runs and get extra base hits," Francona said. "We survived to a point with him really being cold and as hes getting hot its going to help our offence." Both home runs came off Jered Weaver (7-6), who lost for the first time in 10 career starts at Progressive Field. Weaver was 6-0 and allowed 11 earned runs in 60 1-3 innings in nine starts at the Indians ballpark going into the game. The Indians managed to win despite having a thin bullpen, forcing starter Trevor Bauer (2-3) to throw 119 pitches -- a season high for Cleveland -- in 6 2-3 innings. With closer Cody Allen and setup man Bryan Shaw both unavailable after pitching the last three days, Carlos Carrasco worked 2 1-3 innings for his first career save. "Carlos pitched really well, that was a huge lift for us," Francona said. "The way he was pitching I didnt want to take him out, and there was no reason to take him out." Indians left fielder Michael Brantley left the game in the fifth for precautionary reasons after receiving a blow to the head and neck area while trying to break up a double play in the third. "He banged the side of his head on that slide," Francona said. "He passed all the concussion tests, which is good. His neck is a little stiff. Well see how he is when he comes in (Tuesday)." The Angels have lost four of five since winning five straight. Weaver allowed four runs in six innings. The right-handers 1.64 ERA going into Monday was the lowest in ballpark history with a minimum of 50 innings pitched, acccording to STATS LLC. Pavel Zacha Jersey. . Weaver had allowed three earned runs in 43 innings over his last six starts in Cleveland before losing Monday. "I know that Ive thrown well in this park but I didnt know that it was that good," he said. "Nothing else to say, just cant stay away from the homer." Bauer, who pitched around trouble all game, allowed three runs for his first win since May 20 and wasnt bothered by his high pitch count. "I can go 130, 150 or 200," he said. "I did that in college. Im used to throwing." Carrasco, who was moved to the bullpen last month after pitching poorly as a starter, struck out Howie Kendrick to end the seventh and worked around a walk and a single in the eighth. He retired Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to start the ninth and struck out Josh Hamilton on three pitches to end the game. "I want to help the team whether its starting or in the bullpen," Carrasco said. "Right now the bullpen is where I am." Cabreras homer gave Cleveland the lead, but Chris Iannetta tied the game with a two-run double in the second. After the Indians went ahead again on Brantleys RBI single in the third, John McDonalds sacrifice fly in the fourth tied the game. Santana homered deep into the seats in right field on a 2-2 pitch. The switch-hitter is 10 for 19 with two homers lifetime against Weaver. Cabreras drive cleared the 19-foot wall in left field. Angels manager Mike Scioscia came on the field to speak with the umpires, but the call was upheld after a crew chief review. McDonald started at shortstop in place of Erick Aybar, who has a sore left hip. Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving took batting practice with the Indians and threw out the first pitch. NOTES: Aybar had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. ... Francona said RHP Zach McAllister (sore back) will start Thursday. McAllister has been on the 15-day DL since May 22. ... LHP Tyler Skaggs (strained right hamstring) will pitch a simulated game Tuesday. ... The Indians signed LHP Justus Sheffield, the 31st overall pick in the draft. Sheffield, 18, turned down an offer from Vanderbilt to sign with Cleveland. ... Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-1) faces RHP Josh Tomlin (4-3) on Tuesday. ' ' '
