To fly from Baltimore to Boston takes roughly 90 minutes — about half the average time of a Major League Baseball game.
And yet, there will be nothing average about Thursday as the Kansas City Royals make that trip to complete a game against the Boston Red Sox that was suspended by rain tied 4-4 in the 10th inning earlier this month.
The contest could go as short as 30 minutes or last as long as three hours, though both teams hope that won’t be the case on what was supposed to be a mutual day off.
“I hope we score in the first inning and get out of there as quickly as possible and enjoy the day off,” Royals outfielder Alex Gordon said. “One inning and we’re out of there.”
When the game, originally played Aug. 7, resumes, Meibrys Viloria will come to the plate for the Royals ahead in the count 2-1 in the top of the 10th with no outs and no one on base.
Josh Taylor had been on the mound for the Red Sox and is eligible to resume pitching. Eduardo Rodriguez, Darwinzon Hernandez, Nathan Eovaldi and Brandon Workman are all unavailable for Boston after being previously used prior to the suspension.
For Kansas City, Glenn Sparkman, Tim Hill, Kevin McCarthy and Scott Barlow cannot be used. Jake Newberry had been on the mound last and is the pitcher of record.
To underscore the oddity of the game, the Royals will need to make a substitution in the 10th as the third man due up, Billy Hamilton, is no longer on the team after being claimed on waivers by the Atlanta Braves on Monday. Players added to the teams’ rosters over the past two weeks are eligible to play.
After the game ends, the Red Sox will fly across the country for a three-game series at the San Diego Padres beginning Friday. The Royals will head to Cleveland for a three-game set against the Indians.
Boston comes in having been swept by the Philadelphia Phillies over a two-game series. The Red Sox’s powerhouse offense was held to two runs in each loss, leaving nine men on base in a 5-2 setback Wednesday.
“It’s a tough one to swallow, knowing where we’re at, but now we have to turn the page quick and be ready for tomorrow,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Kansas City has dropped six of its last eight, including an 8-1 setback in Baltimore on Wednesday.
