The Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener against the Baltimore Orioles suffered a bit of inclement weather Friday afternoon, but we’re not talking about rain.
Just when PNC Park looked like a winter wonderland in the middle of spring, there was an all-out snowstorm on the Allegheny River.
The sight was amazing because baseball is not supposed to be played in the snow. Snow piled up on the field and the broadcast looked like a blurry TV screen as Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez pitched to Pirates left-handed hitter Rowdy Telles on the mound.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Baltimore Orioles No. 6 Ryan Mountcastle looks on through falling sleet during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, April 5, 2024 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
Telles grounded out to first base, and the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle, battling the elements, picked the ball out of the snow-covered dirt and flipped it back to Rodriguez for an out. And when the camera zoomed in on him, he was smiling, perhaps embarrassed that he was playing.
Snow is no stranger to the “Steel City” native, especially during Pittsburgh Steelers season. However, while the NFL is played in the fall and winter, baseball is considered to have better weather across the country.
Ravens and Orioles team up to donate $10 million to Baltimore Foundation to help with bridge collapse recovery
However, the weather is getting colder in the northern regions for the start of the MLB season, and playing along the Allegheny River will likely bring temperatures down a bit for first pitch. Still, no one expects it to snow when players take the field.
The Pirates haven’t played in snow since 2018, but as Sportsnet Pittsburgh play-by-play commentator Greg Brown said on the broadcast, some players, like Chicago native Jack Swinksi, “ Maybe you’re used to it.
But Rodriguez had rarely seen snow grow in Texas.
Jack Swinski, number 65, of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches from the dugout in the bottom of the second inning during a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 5, 2024 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin Bahr/Getty Images)
“I don’t see much snow, but it was really fun to experience it,” he said, via The Associated Press.
The Orioles won 5-2, improving their season record to 5-2, but Pittsburgh was unable to reward the weather-bearing crowd. The Pirates had one of the most surprising starts this season, falling to 6-2 with the loss.
Orioles young star shortstop Gunnar Henderson went 2-for-5 on the day with a solo home run, and Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins also had solo homers.
Grayson Rodriguez, No. 30 of the Baltimore Orioles, pitches in the rain during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, April 5, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
O’Neal Crews also hit the Pirates’ first long ball at home this season in the loss.
There’s no snow in the forecast as the series continues this weekend, but the Pirates and Orioles will be ready for anything after battling through the storm.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcastplease subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
