Washington Nationals Postpone Game After Navy Yard Shooting
The Washington Nationals postponed their game against the Atlanta Braves Monday Night in respect of the navy yard shooting. The game has moved to Tuesday and rescheduled as a doubleheader.
Nationals Park is located blocks away from the navy yard. One of the parking lots was used as a meeting place for evacuated employees and their families.
Mike Rizzo, the National’s GM, said the following:
“It’s a very emotional day. An extremely horrific act happened very near to the ballpark. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims over there and all the people affected by this. We felt it was inappropriate to play a Major League Baseball game with such tragedy right down the street.”
The navy yard shooting resulted in the death of 12 people. Parts of Washington went on lockdown during the day while police tracked down two suspects. A number of streets around the stadium closed.
The Washington Nationals announced the postponement at 3 pm. The game was originally scheduled to start at 7:15 pm. A number of players from both teams, along with stadium employees, were already at the ballpark.
Bryce Harper, the young Nationals outfielder, tweeted his sympathy:
Thoughts & prayers go out to the victims and responders at the Navy Yard! It is absolute sickening that people do this! #NavyYardShooting
— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) September 16, 2013
The respect shown by the Washington Nationals Monday is great. It will be a welcome sight them play tomorrow.
The Nationals enter tomorrow 10 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. They also sit four and half games behind the Reds for a wildcard birth.
With the Washington Nationals game postponed in respect of the navy yard shooting we can expect an emotional first game Tuesday. Baseball is a healing sport, and being able to play so soon after such a tragedy goes a long way.
[image via Wikimedia Commons]
