Blackout postpones Giants-Mets game

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York blackout forced the evacuation of Shea Stadium and the postponement of Thursday night's game between the Mets and the San Francisco Giants.

"We spoke to the mayor's office and the police department, and they advised us to call the game," Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. "The whole building is going to be evacuated."

The game was called about an hour before the scheduled 7:10 p.m. start. No makeup date has been announced; it was the final game of a three-game series, and the Giants' last trip to New York this season.

After the lights went out in the Mets clubhouse, shortly before 4 p.m., the team went out to take batting practice in the empty stadium.

After the game was called, the Giants waited outside the stadium for a bus. The team had not decided whether to drive to Montreal or go to Philadelphia and fly from there.

Giants star Barry Bonds was not with the team. He returned to the Bay area Thursday to spend time with his ailing father.

Former major leaguer Bobby Bonds has been ill with lung cancer and numerous other ailments. Last month, Barry Bonds missed a game to be with his father when he had open-heart surgery.

Barry Bonds was officially placed on baseball's bereavement list.

Also Thursday, the WNBA games between the New York Liberty and the Houston Comets at Madison Square Garden, and between the Cleveland Rockers and the Connecticut Sun were postponed. No makeup dates were announced.

 

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