Freeze Frame: Did the rain cool off Oviedo? taken in Washington (Pirates)

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Johan Oviedo is taken out in the third inning Sunday against the Nationals.

WASHINGTON -- In what might be a Freeze Frame first, the most critical part of the Pirates' 7-2 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park might have happened before the game.

Originally, the two clubs were set to get started at 1:35 p.m., but it became clear that wasn't going to be possible due to weather. While never officially announced, the hope was it could instead get started by 2:30 p.m. or 3, but instead, it was pushed back to 4 p.m. without much certainty until the tarp started to get pulled about 3:25 p.m., an hour and 50 minutes afterwards.

Johan Oviedo would wind up being not nearly as sharp as he has been this year, allowing seven runs over 2 1/3 innings, ballooning his ERA from 3.303 to 4.78. 

Is it safe to assume that a young pitcher still learning the routine of a major-league starter might have been impacted by that wait time?

"I think it could have," Derek Shelton said. "It’s a challenging thing for a young pitcher. You go out and you start to throw, then it rains. We’re indecisive. You get 35 minutes. I don’t think that’s an excuse, but it’s something young pitchers have to learn how to deal with."

Oviedo, however, was not looking for an excuse. He just didn't execute.

"As a professional, you've got to go through anything," he said. "Tough day. Tough outing. We've got to keep moving forward."

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