MLB may decide to move the Baltimore Orioles’ scheduled home games to another city amid safety concerns in Baltimore due to rioting.
Protesters demonstrating Saturday in response to the death of Freddie Gray tried to get the Orioles-Red Sox game canceled. Fans attending the game were locked in Camden Yards after the game until things got safer.
Matters became dangerous when people began rioting in the city Monday, burning buildings and cars and assaulting police officers. Monday’s Orioles-White Sox game at Camden Yards was postponed less than an hour before the scheduled first pitch, and now MLB is saying some of the team’s games could be moved.
From The Baltimore Sun’s Eduardo A. Encina:
[Commissioner Rob] Manfred, who was visiting Camden Yards by coincidence while making the rounds to visit to all 30 teams, acknowledged that Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., could be an option. Manfred said the decision to postpone the game was made to ensure everyone’s safety.
“The decision was reached after consultation with local officials,” Manfred said. “We feel like we made the decision that will provide us the greatest possible security in terms of protecting the fans, the players, the umpires, everybody involved in the game.”
The Orioles began a 9-game home stand on Friday night. They were scheduled to host the White Sox Monday-Wednesday and they are scheduled to host the Rays Friday-Sunday.
