OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The game between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night started more than 90 minutes late because of a lighting problem at the Coliseum.
A bank of lights above the upper deck in left field that had been only partially lit, causing the delay. Those lights began to flicker on as the game started.
It was the second straight day the Reds have had a game delayed because of unusual circumstances. Their game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday in Cincinnati was briefly halted in the first inning due to a swarm of bees.
The A’s announced 15 minutes before the 7:07 p.m. scheduled start that the game would not begin on time. It eventually started at 8:45 p.m.
During the delay, two workers climbed a fence leaning against the railing along the outer rim of the stadium to get to the lights and spent nearly 20 minutes attempting to fix the situation with no success.
A’s President Dave Kaval walked out to left field at one point and led a meeting behind home plate that included two umpires, general manager David Forst, Oakland manager Bob Melvin and Reds manager David Bell.
Shortly after the meeting ended, A’s pitcher Mike Fiers walked out to the bullpen near left field to begin his pregame warmups with the lights still malfunctioning.
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