PawSox pitcher Charlie Zink, in action during a game against Rochester, says he’s terrified of lightning.

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The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

PAWTUCKET — At 5:34 last night, Pawtucket Red Sox field superintendent Matt McKinnon came out and told the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees that they had to halt batting practice and leave the field at McCoy Stadium.

There was a cold front moving in, and the National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area. So the Yankees went inside to hit in the cage.

In the wake of former PawSox pitcher Geremi Gonzalez’s death — he was struck and killed by lightning on a beach in Venezuela last Sunday — several of the Pawtucket players, including some of Gonzalez’s former teammates, talked about their experiences while on the field during bad weather.

Sure, most people will say they are afraid of lightning strikes. Most people take cover during a storm. But when dangerous weather arrives during a baseball game, players are standing on a two-acre field with metal spikes on their feet and metal buttons on the top of their caps.

The Gonzalez tragedy was still being talked about in the PawSox’ clubhouse yesterday afternoon, a day after the players had heard the tragic news.

Pawtucket starting pitcher Charlie Zink, a teammate of Gonzalez’s in 2005, was stunned when he was told what had happened.

“That’s terrible,” said Zink. “That’s one of the most random things I’ve ever heard. That’s insane.”

Even though Zink was shocked to hear about the death of his former teammate, it was the comment that followed that was interesting.

“That’s why I’m scared of lightning,” Zink said. “Anytime there’s lightning during a game I go into the clubhouse. I don’t want to be that one guy. I come right in unless I’m pitching; then, I’ll wait for the umpire to stop the game. But I’m terrified — I’m wearing metal spikes. I’ve always been real scared. Lightning has hit the light towers while we’ve been playing. I don’t like it at all.”

Humid conditions are best for knuckleball pitchers. Still, Zink wants to get off the field when he sees a bolt of lightning.

He’s not alone.

PawSox first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss remembers a game that Pawtucket played in Richmond last season. The wind was blowing 60 mph and conditions were perfect for a storm. He was in the batter’s box when a bolt of lightning struck.

“I was terrified,” he said. “I wanted to hit the ball and make an out just so I could get off the field.”

Pawtucket catcher George Kottaras was playing in his second professional season, in the Padres’ organization, when he was in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Class-A Wizards were about to take the field when a bolt of lightning struck a transformer at the ballpark and blew out the electricity. He remembered a huge explosion.

PawSox second baseman Joe Thurston also said there have been many times when he’s been playing during a storm and didn’t think he should have been. He was playing for Scranton in 2006 against the now-defunct Red Barons in Ottawa. Lightning struck a building behind the left-field wall — a bit too close for comfort.

Umpires at the professional level are instructed to stop a game — no matter what the situation is — if there is lightning in the vicinity.

Before the Internet, clubs would call a local airport to get a report on the weather. Now, field superintendents have the capabilities to monitor the weather from their office.

As McKinnon and his crew put the tarp on the field last night, Yankees reliever Scott Patterson was having some fun with a few fans. He was attempting to hit a baseball out of McCoy with a fungo bat. When the first bolt of lightning was visible at the stadium, at 5:53, Patterson stood in right field with his bat pointing straight up.

Obviously, he was joking, but there are many baseball players who want nothing to do with severe weather. Fortunately, the sky cleared and it was a beautiful night for baseball at McCoy.

jmcdonal@projo.com