With Hurricane Irene Approaching, Red Sox, MLB Looking at Scheduling Alternatives

As Hurricane Irene targets New England toward the end of this weekend, the Red Sox are working with Major League Baseball to explore alternative options for the upcoming series at Fenway Park against the Oakland A’s, manager Terry Francona said Wednesday.

The teams are scheduled to play a 7:10 p.m. game Friday night, followed by a 1:10 p.m. game Saturday and a 1:35 p.m. affair Sunday. The storm could begin to lash the region with rain and wind late Saturday, and is expected to have its greatest impact Sunday into Monday, although the forecast could change.

Francona told reporters Wednesday afternoon in Texas that some ideas are being thrown around. One could be a doubleheader either Friday or Saturday. Oakland plays a day game Thursday in New York, so it would have enough time to get to Boston for a twinbill Friday.

"I think they're throwing around a lot of ideas that are just ideas," Francona told reporters. "It sounds like it could be anything from us having trouble getting home to who knows? It's iffy. I know they're trying to brainstorm."

The Red Sox have a day off Monday, but the A's are in Cleveland that day and they do not return to the East Coast the rest of the season.

MLB has already altered a series between Cincinnati and Florida in order to avoid Irene's wrath. With the storm not far off the Florida coast, the Marlins moved Thursday's game with the Reds to Wednesday, creating a day-night doubleheader before Irene can make much of an impact in the region.