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First Posted: 4/15/2014

PHILADELPHIA — Rain gave a pair of depleted bullpens a little boost.

Tuesday night’s game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed by inclement weather, allowing both managers to rest their weary closers an extra day.

A makeup date wasn’t announced. It’s expected the game will be played when the Braves return to Philadelphia on June 27-29.

David Hale, the Braves’ scheduled starter, will be skipped. Julio Teheran (1-1) faces Phillies ace Cliff Lee (2-1) on Wednesday night. Alex Wood (2-1) goes against A.J. Burnett (0-1) in the series finale Thursday afternoon.

Hale will be available in the bullpen the next two games and is scheduled to start Sunday.

“This lets us recharge that bullpen a little bit,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez wouldn’t say whether closer Craig Kimbrel would have been available Tuesday. Kimbrel, who experienced shoulder discomfort after recording his fifth save on Saturday, is day to day and David Carpenter got the save in Atlanta’s 9-6 comeback win Monday night.

“Kimbrel played catch today. Nothing major,” Gonzalez said. “Hopefully tomorrow he wakes up a little better, progresses.”

The Phillies wasted a five-run rally in the eighth inning of the series opener when Jake Diekman allowed a grand slam to Dan Uggla in the ninth inning. Diekman was trying for his first career save filling in for Jonathan Papelbon, who pitched the three previous games.

Papelbon is ready to go and the overused bullpen could benefit from the night off.

Philadelphia’s relievers have the third-highest ERA in the majors at 5.53. It hasn’t helped that starters have pitched more than six innings just twice in 13 games.

Rays lose Moore for season

BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore will miss the remainder of the season after opting to have elbow-ligament replacement surgery.

Dr. James Andrews is to operate next week on the 24-year-old pitcher, who made the AL All-Star team last year. Moore will be the first Rays pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery since Jason Isringhausen in June 2009.

“I can’t help out on the competitive side of this business right now,” Moore said Tuesday before rain washed out the Rays’ game at the Orioles. “This is my first significant injury where I’m going to be missing a lot of time.”

Manager John Maddon believes Moore’s decision will be beneficial in the long term for the pitcher and the team.

“It’s awful, but it’s great,” Maddon said. “It’s awful that we’re going to miss this guy for a bit. It’s good for him to be able to get past this moment and look forward to a really long and prosperous career. Almost all of the time, percentage-wise, it’s a very successful operation.”

Moore hasn’t pitched since walking off the mound with elbow soreness on April 7 in Kansas City. He was placed on the disabled list the following day.

“It was an injury that I didn’t think would be my ligament. I didn’t think it was going to be something like that,” he said. “It just didn’t feel that severe.”

After throwing on the side Monday, Moore realized surgery was inevitable.

Indians activate OF Bourn

DETROIT — Michael Bourn was ready to return to the majors. Nasty weather delayed his plans.

Bourn, who missed Cleveland’s first 13 games with a strained left hamstring, was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday before the Indians’ series opener with the Tigers was postponed by cold weather.

Bourn had expected to make his season debut only to have it pushed back by temperatures in the low 30s and snow sitting on the outfield grass in Comerica Park.

“He was ready to go,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of his speedy center fielder. “He wanted to play, but you can’t control the weather.”

It’s the third postponement for the Indians, who already have been forced to play two doubleheaders this season because of rainouts. No makeup date was announced, but Francona believes the AL Central teams, who are scheduled to play 19 times, are eyeing a date in July.

The Indians return to Detroit for a three-game series from July 18-20 and Sept. 12-14.

Francona said right-hander Zach McAllister’s start will be pushed back to Wednesday. Danny Salazar will start Thursday, followed by Justin Masterson, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.

White Sox OF Garcia has surgery

CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia has had season-ending left shoulder surgery.

The White Sox said doctors at Rush Oak Park Hospital on Tuesday repaired a torn labrum and avulsion fracture in Garcia’s left shoulder.

The 22-year-old Garcia was injured when he attempted a diving catch on April 9 at Colorado. Garcia is expected to be ready for the start of spring training next season, without any restrictions.

Garcia was batting .267 with two home runs, four RBIs and six runs in eight games this season. He had his first career multihomer game the day before getting hurt.