Red Sox-Yankees rained out; DH set for Aug. 3

The opener of a scheduled four-game series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees was postponed due to persistent rain in the Bronx on Thursday. The game will be made up as the nightcap of a doubleheader on Aug. 3.

The Yankees announced the postponement approximately two hours before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. EDT first pitch and before fans were allowed into Yankee Stadium. New York players were still taking batting practice when the game was postponed. Forecasts called for heavy rains for most of Thursday near Yankee Stadium.

The pitching matchup that was scheduled for Thursday, Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale vs. Yankees lefty J.A. Happ, will remain intact for Friday. New York plans to start right-hander Domingo German on Saturday left-hander CC Sabathia on Sunday, with the rainout wiping away the need for a bullpen day over the weekend.

After Sale, the Boston rotation for the weekend is undecided, the Red Sox announced. The first-place Yankees enter the weekend holding a 7 1/2-game lead on the third-place Red Sox in the American League East. New York is 30-10 in its past 40 games while Boston has lost two in a row and four of six.

--Field Level Media