Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks have snow delay

Home-plate umpire Jansen Visconti threw Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims the ball, and Sims threw it right to the dugout. Visconti threw Sims another ball, and Sims threw it right to the dugout.

Meanwhile, they both were drenched by pouring rain. Sims had just walked in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. Right after the Diamondbacks took a 5-4 lead, the game was delayed and later suspended because of snow and rain.

The game was suspended to Wednesday. It will pick up in the eighth inning at 5:10 p.m., and game two of the series will start no sooner than 6:40 p.m.

When Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone took the mound in the top of the eighth inning, the grounds crew was standing in the first two rows of the stands. They were prepared to roll out the tarp as the rain picked up.

At the time, the Reds had a one-run lead.

Antone hadn’t allowed a run all season, and he had just thrown another dominant inning. The rain poured harder, and Antone allowed a game-tying home run by Diamondbacks infielder Andrew Young.

Amir Garrett came in from the bullpen, and the rain picked up even more. Lucas Sims took over a few batters later, and the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded. 

In miserable conditions, Sims walked in the go-ahead run as the Diamondbacks took a 5-4 lead.

In MLB, the decision of whether or not to begin a rain delay is up to the umpires after the game starts. Shortly after Visconti’s exchange with Sims, Visconti and the umpires decided to delay the game.

Before the rainy eighth inning, the Reds were on track for their 10th win of the season.

Like starting pitcher Luis Castillo had done in his previous start, he rebounded after the first inning. Against the Diamondbacks, he faced seven hitters in the first inning, and the first six made contact.