NEW YORK - While lightning crackled, thunder boomed and rain poured down Saturday, a baseball suddenly shot out of the Yankees' dugout, skimming across the tarp and skittering toward the Mets' bench.
There was a note on the ball, a message between good friends and former teammates Robin Ventura and Joe McEwing.
Ventura wrote: "I don't think the hard stuff's coming down for a while."
"A little line from Caddyshack" said McEwing, a Mets utilityman.
Comedian Bill Murray made it popular in the movie, and Ventura picked a perfect time to reprise it after the field was cleared. Minutes later, the Subway Series game at Shea Stadium was rained out in the fourth inning with the Yankees leading 4-3.
The game will be made up as part of a day-night, two-ballpark doubleheader Saturday. The teams will play the regularly scheduled game at Yankee Stadium at 1:20 p.m., then bus to Shea to play at 8:10.
The Yankees and Mets did something similar on July 8, 2000 because of a rainout. That time, they opened at Shea and finished at Yankee Stadium - that was the first two-park doubleheader in the majors since Sept. 7, 1903, when games were held at Brooklyn's Washington Park and the Polo Grounds, home of the New York Giants.
"I'll just go along for the ride," said Mike Mussina, who started for the Yankees and gave up home runs to Jeromy Burnitz and Ty Wigginton.
Todd Zeile had a home run and a single wiped out for the Yankees. He began the day in an 0-for-20 rut and his two hits didn't count, as manager Joe Torre playfully reminded him.
"After the game, Joe said, "I have bad news for you: You're still in a slump,"' Zeile said.
Derek Jeter was hit above the left wrist by a pitch from rookie Jeremy Griffiths in the second but stayed in and expects to play today.
Tom Glavine, who was scheduled to pitch for the Mets, was scratched after he began to warm up and Griffiths made his first start. Glavine is scheduled to pitch today against David Wells.
DODGERS SALE: Cross ownership rules in the NFL and baseball continue to be obstacles to Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer's bid to buy the team, but the more significant hurdle, according to the Los Angeles Times, could be concern among baseball owners about the club's management if he reached an agreement with News Corp.
It is believed that Glazer would leave the operation of the Dodgers to his son, Edward, who is based in Los Angeles, but the family's lack of baseball background and its management credentials have made officials leery, the newspaper reported.
NFL rules require owners to use independent resources in the purchase of a team in another sport and independent management of it. If Glazer can't satisfy the NFL and baseball, it is believed that a group headed by former Mariners owner Jeff Smulyan would move to the forefront of the bidding.
ASTROS: Second baseman Jeff Kent was scratched from the starting lineup just before the start of the game at Texas because of his sore left wrist. It is the third straight game Kent has missed.
CARDINALS: Third baseman Scott Rolen, bothered by a sore neck, will get at least three more days off to rest. Rolen missed his third straight start against the Royals. He also will miss today's series finale, and the Cardinals have a day off Monday before starting a three-game series against Cincinnati.
DIAMONDBACKS: Outfielder Danny Bautista was placed on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain.
EXPOS: Third baseman Fernando Tatis was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of swelling in his chest wall.
GIANTS: First baseman J.T. Snow was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left groin.
INDIANS: Right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez (strained triceps) is expected to come off the DL and start Thursday against the Royals.
