Red Sox livid with Orioles' handling of weather after game, use of David Price, rained out

BALTIMORE -- Last year, there were hard feelings between the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles over a takeout slide by Manny Machado and some resulting brushback pitches.

This year, the bad blood is because of bad weather.

The final game of the three-game series between the teams - which saw the Red Sox take a 5-0 lead before the game was halted with two outs in the top of the second inning -- was then cancelled some two and a half hours later. Three homers -- by Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts -- were wiped out, and so too was David Price's start.

"I feel for the team,'' said manager Alex Cora. "I don't care about the home runs. I mean, we had a 5-0 lead and we have one of our horses on the mound. It's not like it's a guaranteed win. But we know where we're at and every game matters. It happened two days ago, with a rain-delay after two outs in the first inning and it happened again tonight. I'm not happy about it.

"I'm annoyed about the whole three-game series. Rick (Porcello, who started Monday), it was tough. He had to wait for a while in a game with two outs in the first inning there was a rain delay. It was a tough one. But we'll turn the page. We'll show up tomorrow and we'll do what we do.''

Asked what he would have preferred for the Orioles to do, Cora chuckled and said: "Not started it.''

Cora said the Sox would use Thursday to discuss how to best utilize Price in the coming days. His next scheduled start, before the postponement, is Monday against Philadelphia.

Under Major League Baseball rules, the decision to start a game rests with the home team when it's not the final series in that city for the visiting team. Once lineup cards are exchanged, the decision to stop, restart or cancel a game altogether rests with the umpires.

Crew chief Fieldin Culbreth confirmed that, in this case, the decision to start the game was made by the home team. The decision to stop play lies with the umpires. The decision to wait, resume or cancel is made, Culbreth said, by "many people. That is not something we take lightly. A lot of thought goes into that.''

Representatives of MLB are also consulted on whether to resume play or call off the game.

Cora was particularly miffed that the team essentially forfeited a start by Price.

"We know how it goes,'' said Cora. "For him to go out, warm up and then all of a sudden it's a 5-0 game...whatever. Like I said, we'll turn the page, show up tomorrow and be ready to play.''

The Red Sox return to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in just over two weeks for a three-game weekend series Aug. 10-12. The teams could make up Wednesday night's game as part of a doubleheader that weekend, and also share a common off-day on Monday Aug. 13.