Storms delay Randy Johnson’s bid for 300th win; Giants-Nationals expected to start late

Storms delay Randy Johnson’s bid for 300th win

WASHINGTON — Randy Johnson’s bid to become the 24th pitcher to win 300 games has been delayed by thunderstorms.

Wednesday night’s game between Johnson’s San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals was on hold after heavy rain drenched Nationals Park late in the afternoon, forcing officials to give up on the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start time. The storm, accompanied by jarring flashes of lightning, was so heavy that the nearby Capitol dome couldn’t be seen from the upper deck.

The tarp was taken off the field when the rain stopped around 8 p.m., but it was put back on when weather radar showed another line of storms was imminent. Officials said they expected the rain to stop by 10 p.m., and they still hoped to get the game in.