Nationals grounds crew can't get the tarp on the field, a breakdown

Aug 12, 2020 647.5K views 2:21

What Happened

The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles are facing off at Nationals Park, with the Nationals leading 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Suddenly, heavy rain begins to pour down and the umpires call for the grounds crew to get the tarp on the field. The Nationals' grounds crew rushes onto the field, struggling to unfurl the large tarp. As they start to roll it out, it becomes clear that something is wrong - the tarp is not unrolling smoothly and a small white strip appears to be stuck, causing the tarp to bunch up. The crew tries to pull harder, but the issue only worsens and the rain continues to intensify. Realizing they need to regroup, the grounds crew starts to roll the tarp back up, but it's a slow and frustrating process. The TV cameras capture the crew's growing frustration as they try to figure out how to get the tarp on the field. At one point, the crew appears to have a plan, with one member going underneath the tarp to assess the issue. He emerges, seemingly having found a solution and the crew begins to roll the tarp out again. However, the heavy rain has taken its toll and by the time the tarp is finally in place, the field is too wet to continue play. The umpires are forced to suspend the game, much to the disappointment of the players and fans. Throughout the chaotic scene, the Nationals' head groundskeeper, Tom Rushin, can be heard offering instructions and guidance to his crew. "Bring it that way," he says, trying to help them coordinate their efforts. a popular baseball analyst, later reveals that the tarp's issues may have been the result of sabotage. According to 's investigation, a Skittles sales representative, who was upset that his company's advertising deal on the tarp was not being appreciated, tampered with the tarp, causing the issues that plagued the grounds crew. Despite their best efforts, the Nationals' grounds crew is unable to get the game back underway and the umpires are forced to suspend the contest due to the unplayable field conditions. The game will need to be resumed at a later date, leaving both teams and their fans disappointed by the weather-related delay.

Full Transcript

Click timestamps to jump to that moment

we had a huge scene the other day in the

capital

orioles are playing against the

nationals it's five two and the six but

it's raining