Red Sox game vs. Rays postponed Saturday; makeup will be part of July 17 doubleheader

BOSTON — Saturday’s Red Sox-Rays game has been postponed due to rain in the Fenway area, the club announced. It has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on July 17.

Boston and Tampa Bay prepared to play the third game of a four-game series at 4:10 p.m. ET but as game time approached, the rain intensified at Fenway. A smattering of fans filled the ballpark and booed loudly when a video board announcement shared news of the postponement shortly before 4 p.m. ET.

The team will play its regularly scheduled series finale at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday with the makeup set for July, when the Rays return to Boston. The doubleheader will be played on the first day after the All-Star break (Friday, July 17) with games at 1:35 p.m. ET and 7:10 p.m. ET. Tickets to Saturday’s game will be good for Game 1 of that doubleheader.

It’s the first rainout of the season for the Red Sox, who have had three game times moved due to weather so far this year. Lefty Payton Tolle, who was scheduled to start Saturday, will now pitch Sunday opposite righty Nick Martinez. The Red Sox have not decided yet on their rotation for their home series with the Phillies, which begins Tuesday night. Brayan Bello will be in line to pitch, as well as Sonny Gray, but the Sox are also looking to work in lefty Ranger Suarez, who was able to avoid the injured list and will pitch against his former team.