Rangers-Cubs rained out at Wrigley Field
The Texas Rangers are getting accustomed to this cold, damp weather.
The game between the Rangers and Chicago Cubs scheduled for Wednesday night was rained out. It was postponed two hours before it was supposed to start at Wrigley Field.
No makeup date was announced. The teams are set to play Thursday afternoon.
''(Tuesday) night wasn't bad, just a little chilly but we're in Chicago and we're going to have to put up with that,'' first baseman Mitch Moreland said. ''We've kind of dealt with it the last few games anyways.''
It might've been more than ''a little chilly.'' The gametime temperature Tuesday night was 39 degrees with the wind blowing in off nearby Lake Michigan.
Rangers manager Ron Washington said it was worse the conditions he's felt crosstown at U.S. Cellular Field, where the White Sox.
''I can tell you what, we've been on the south side when it's cold, but it's not the same cold on the north side,'' Washington said.
Texas opened the interleague series with a 4-2 win.
Before Wednesday, the Rangers had played their last five games with the temperatures below 50 degrees, including four at Seattle's Safeco Field. So, for a warm-weather team, Texas is rather well-versed in ways to beat low temperatures and tough conditions.
The Rangers will skip Wednesday's scheduled starter, Justin Grimm, in favor of Alexi Ogando on Thursday.
Yu Darvish will pitch Friday against Seattle regardless of Thursday's weather. Grimm will pitch Sunday and Tuesday's winner, Derek Holland, will open the Rangers' set Monday with the Los Angeles Angels.
And if the Chicago weather continues to be a problem, there are a few Rangers who know how to deal with the raw conditions.
The Rangers have former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, along with ex-Cubs Geovany Soto and Jeff Baker. The three spent parts of a combined 20 years in Chicago, and certainly experienced some miserable April days.
''The thing you keep coming back to is that both teams are playing in it,'' said Baker, who spent parts of four years with the Cubs. ''Yeah, you're probably not going to have your great individual performance that day but at the same time all that matters is beating that other team and going out there and scoring more runs.''
Moreland said he was told to expect what the Rangers are getting.
''That's the way it is in Chicago this time of the year,'' Moreland said. ''That's part of it.''
That isn't to say the conditions are pleasant at Wrigley. Baker remembered that last season he didn't wear short sleeves under his jersey until June at Wrigley.
His mindset, however, never changed. It was always about winning and trying to block out the raw weather.
''If you look at it that way, it keeps you sane and you don't focus on how miserable it is,'' Baker said.
Even with the weather, the rare trip to Wrigley was still a special one for many Rangers.
''You're going to deal with that,'' Moreland said. ''The Wrigley part of it kind of overshadows the weather.''
NOTES: The Rangers have won nine of their last 10 interleague games. They've won their last six series against NL teams since losing two out of three to Florida in July 2011. ... Former Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano was at Wrigley Field before Wednesday's game for a visit. He is currently a free agent.