ALCS Game 4 postponed to Thursday

DETROIT (AP) - Game 4 of the AL championship series between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers was postponed because of bad weather in the area Wednesday night -- although Comerica Park was still dry when the game was called.

Wednesday night's game was rescheduled for Thursday at 4:07 p.m., when Game 5 was originally slated to be played. Detroit leads the best-of-seven series 3-0.

The first pitch had been scheduled for 8:07 p.m., but shortly before then the crowd was informed of a delay. A radar forecast for the Detroit area was eventually posted on the scoreboard video screen, as if to explain to fans why there was no baseball despite what was still rather pleasant weather at the ballpark.

The postponement was announced after a delay of about 1 hour, 10 minutes.

A misty rain finally began about 15 minutes after the postponement was announced.

Storm Team 8 says lightning will not finish moving through the area until after midnight.

"Game 4 will be played on Thursday at 4:07 pm. Tickets for #Tigers home Game #2 of the # ALCS will be honored for tomorrow's game," the Tigers tweeted.

In the locker room after the postponement, players told 24 Hour News 8's Jack Doles that they agreed with the call because they prefer to play a clean game without starts and stops for weather.

But some fans told 24 Hour News 8 they were annoyed.

"I wish they would have started on time and I think they would have got enough innings in to make it a full game. And then we would have been celebrating right now," said fan Judy Heeter of Kalamazoo. But she said she'll make the long drive back to Detroit Thursday to see Game 4.

"Now I'm paying $100-plus foa ticket, and I might not be able to go to a game?" said fan Jon Zalenski.

The Tigers are no strangers to rain in the playoffs. Last year, ace Justin Verlander had two starts cut short by bad weather -- although both were on the road.

After Game 1 of the 2011 ALCS at Texas was delayed twice for a total of 1 hour, 50 minutes, Game 2 was called off well before the scheduled first pitch because of a forecast calling for more wet weather.

Then it didn't rain that night.

New York was set to send ace CC Sabathia to the mound for Game 4 against Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer. Under the original schedule, there also was a chance for Sabathia to pitch a potential Game 7 on three days' rest if the Yankees rallied in the series.

There was no immediate announcement on when Game 5 would be played if the Yankees win Game 4. If Game 5 is simply moved to Friday's scheduled off day, then New York would have to win four games in four days and Sabathia would seem unlikely to make more than one start.

There is also a chance of rain in Detroit on Thursday and Friday.

24 Hour News 8's Jack Doles and Ryan Takeo contributed to this report.