Pirates-Cubs suspended by rain, restarts Saturday

Another game, another set of rain delays at Wrigley Field.

Dark skies and high winds hit the ballpark shortly after 3 p.m. Friday and halted the game between the Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates for 47 minutes. Little rain fell, but umpires were cautious because of the lightning, dark clouds and winds.

Just before 4:30, the skies opened again, and umpires eventually suspended the game until 2 p.m. Saturday, one hour ahead of the regularly scheduled game.

The Cubs and Pirates were tied at 3-3 after six innings.

Cubs starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada left the game with one out in the fourth inning with what the Cubs said was mild cramping in his left calf. Wada gave up 3 hits and 3 runs, 2 earned. He was relieved by Carlos Villanueva.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the first inning. Josh Harrison led off with a double. Wada got two outs before Harrison scored on a throwing error by third baseman Luis Valbuena.

The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the third. Arismendy Alcantara led off with a double. One out later, Valbuena doubled into the vines, forcing Alcantara to stop at third. Jorge Soler's sacrifice fly scored Alcantara. After Chris Coghlan walked, Valbuena scored on a throwing error by Pirates third baseman Harrison on Chris Valaika's grounder.

Wada ran into trouble in the fourth. Neil Walker walked with one out and scored on Jose Tabata's double to center, a ball that fooled Alcantara, who broke in, only to see the ball sail over his head and to the wall. After pitcher Vance Worley struck out. Harrison doubled home Tabata.

• Bruce Miles will have more on the Cubs' battles with the elements later at dailyherald.com.