PORTLAND – Shortly after the announcement came that the Portland Sea Dogs’ game was rained out Tuesday night, it stopped raining.

Maybe the game against the Reading Phillies could have been played — or at least started — but team officials opted on the side of caution.

The rained-out game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on June 5. The 6 p.m. start time remains.

The Phillies are still in Portland this week and will resume their series with the Sea Dogs at 6 tonight.

When Charlie Eshbach, the Sea Dogs’ president, made the decision to postpone, the forecast called for possible showers soon after 6 p.m. and more rain coming later in the night. Only about 200 fans had gathered at Hadlock Field.

“It was raining and it looked like it was going to rain some more,” Eshbach said. “I’m like everyone else. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I get it wrong.

“It’s the worst part of my job, deciding whether we’re going to play or not. I’ve got to balance the safety of the player against the inconvenience of the fans, and the fans’ expectations; factor in the business end and then make the appropriate decision.”

Safety is always a priority, Eshbach said. Not only does the field have to be playable, but a game can’t be started and stopped and then restarted so easily in the minors.

“You don’t want to start a game at 6 o’clock, and have to call it at 20 after,” Eshbach said. “Or then wait for an hour and start again because you have starting pitchers (who no longer can pitch).

“Rosters aren’t huge and you can’t be wasting pitchers.”

Today’s forecast calls for sun and 65 degrees at game time.