D-backs game vs. Angels shortened by hail storm

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, a hailstorm finally ended a weather-delayed D-backs game Friday afternoon in Tempe.

The D-backs’ originally-scheduled starter, Randall Delgado, was scratched after struggling to get warmed up prior to the game. Instead, D-backs relief pitcher Brad Ziegler was called upon to warm up quickly and make the start. The sidearmer gave up two hits, one run and a walk in one inning and 30 pitches of work before yielding the mound to Delgado, who pitched 1 2/3 innings before the game was called by umpire Jim Wolf.

Offensively, Aaron Hill hit a first inning home run — his first of 2013 Spring Training — to give the D-backs their only run, as Didi Gregorius tallied the only other hit, a single.

He said it:

When asked about the inclement weather, catcher Wil Nieves entertained reporters with a comical rant.

“I looked at the umpire before the game started and said, ‘We’re really playing this?’ … It was bad. The ball just looked like a dark object. It was so hard to see… I’m glad they stopped it, because someone was going to get hurt and it was probably going to be me.”

Coming up next:

The D-backs face the White Sox on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. at Salt River Fields. Brandon McCarthy is scheduled to take the mound and RHP Zeke Spruill, RHP Starling Peralta, RHP Garrett Mock, LHP Tony Sipp, LHP Matt Reynolds, and RHP Eric Smith are also all scheduled to make appearances, unless Kirk Gibson moved Friday’s scheduled pitchers back a game — a decision he said he’s currently undecided on.

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