Cincinnati Reds scheduled to play San Francisco Giants at 8:45 p.m. after rain delay

8:13 p.m. update: Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft walked to the outfield with catcher Tyler Stephenson to begin warming up for his home debut.

8:00 p.m. update: The Reds announced Friday's game against the Giants is scheduled to begin at 8:45 p.m.

At the time of the announcement, it was still raining and the tarp was covering the infield, but the Reds had one of their bullpen catchers walk to the bullpen.

7:33 p.m. update: The Great American Ball Park grounds crew returned the tarp over the infield as rain began to fall. Most fans took cover near the concourse.

Original story:

Graham Ashcraft, called up before Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants, will have to wait before making his second Major League start.

The Cincinnati Reds and Giants are in a rain delay at Great American Ball Park. The tarp was pulled off the infield before the scheduled 6:40 p.m. first pitch, but the radar showed storms in the area, which delayed the start of the game.

The GABP video board said "we do anticipate playing baseball tonight," in its rain delay announcement.

Neither Ashcraft nor Giants starter Carlos Rodón had begun warming up at 7:15 p.m., which is always the main indicator that players are preparing to play soon.

7:25 p.m. update: One "fan" is no longer in attendance.

The Bald Eagle from the Cincinnati Zoo, "Sam," is no longer scheduled to perform a flight from the Riverboat Deck to the pitcher's mound during the national anthem because of the delay. Sam has made flights at Reds games since 2004 and Friday was supposed to be the first one of the season.

– Check back at Cincinnati.com for further rain delay updates.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds in rain delay before game vs. San Francisco Giants