The grounds crew cleared the tunnel leading to the Pirates' dugout of water, swept away puddles from the warning track and prepped the field for an estimated start time of 8:40 p.m. Lightning struck twenty minutes later and was soon followed by a torrential downpour that flooded PNC Park.
Finally, two hours and one minute after scheduled first pitch, the series finale against the Brewers was postponed and will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader July 14. The first game will begin at 12:35 p.m. That will be the second day of a four-game series preceding the All-Star break.
Chad Kuhl, their starter for the series finale, will take the mound Friday night against the Diamondbacks. Ivan Nova will start the second game of that series, followed by Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams.
Kuhl, along with Elias Diaz and members of the coaching staff, spent the entire rain delay in the bullpen. Brewers starter Brent Suter, catcher Manny Piña and their staff twice retreated to the visitors clubhouse. Fans returned to their seats and Kuhl was playing catch in the outfield when lighting struck at approximately 8:15 p.m. Both teams were told to leave the field, and the grounds crew quickly prepped the field before rolling the tarp back on.
It took only a few minutes for heavy rain to begin, and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 8:45 p.m. Both dugouts were flooded and a small pond formed in left field before the game was finally called. The Brewers host the Cardinals Friday night at Miller Park, and the Pirates will begin a four-game series against the Diamondbacks.
It was the Pirates' first postponement since April 24 and their fourth this season.