The forecast called for a 90 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service. The rain was to let up after midnight.
"From what I understand, it's not going to start on time, but possibly relatively close," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "The proverbial window is like a 9:30 or so window, although this sounds like it may be a big bay window, where you actually could play a baseball game. They're saying after this weather clears out, it should be good for the rest of the night."
Maddon was happy the delay was in a ballpark that opened in 2004 and has modern facilities and space.
"If you're in Fenway, in that clubhouse, it gets kind of annoying," he said. "The clubhouse is, what, maybe half this size. And when you have all the amenities and you get yourself a nice cheesesteak while you're waiting or watch a game on the tube - J.P. Howell is up there watching Texas versus Oklahoma State right now - this kind of facility ameliorates that situation a bit and permits you to get through the moment."
His use of "ameliorates" brought laughter from a room of baseball reporters not used to team personnel uttering polysyllabic words.
Maddon wondered how his starting pitcher would spend the time.
"Matt Garza is a different story. I don't know what he's going to do. If there's a padded room around here, I'd really like to know about, so he can go there and bounce around for a bit," he said.
The series was tied at a game apiece heading into Philadelphia's first home World Series game in 15 years. A postponement would result in games at Philadelphia on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. If the Series went to a sixth game, it would be played Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the teams would lose the off day.
