The MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee quickly turned into a weather-impacted affair, with heavy rain forcing delays and a suspension.
The game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, scheduled for Saturday night, was first delayed by over two hours due to rain. After finally starting, more rain interrupted play, leading to a suspension. MLB announced the game would resume at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Game Suspension Details
The game was suspended in the bottom of the first inning with one out. Reds’ pitcher Chase Burns had a strong start, throwing a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Reds managed to score a run against Braves’ lefty Austin Cox.
Spencer Strider, the Braves’ scheduled starter, was scratched from the game after the initial rain delay due to concerns around his recovery from his second UCL surgery, prompting the team to be extra cautious with his health.
When the game resumes on Sunday, the Reds will have Matt McLain at second base, Elly De La Cruz at first base, and Miguel Andujar at the plate with one out. The Reds lead the game 1-0, thanks to an RBI single from Austin Hays.
Historic Event
The Speedway Classic is notable not only for its dramatic weather delays but also for being the first MLB game between American or National League teams to be held in Tennessee.
The event has broken records, with over 85,000 tickets sold, surpassing the previous record for a regular season game at Cleveland Stadium in 1954, which had 84,587 tickets sold. The massive turnout highlights the popularity of the event and the iconic nature of the Bristol Motor Speedway.
The speedway, traditionally a NASCAR venue, has a seating capacity of 146,000 for motorsports events, though only two-thirds of the seating was open for this baseball game. Temporary seating was also installed behind the plate and along the first and third base lines for the special occasion.
Series Standings
As the game resumes on Sunday, both teams are coming off a split of the first two games of their three-game series. The Reds, with a record of 58-53, are sitting 3 ½ games behind the third wild card spot in the National League. The Braves, struggling this season with a 46-63 record, are well out of the postseason race.
The Speedway Classic, a one-game event, follows the first two games of this series, which were played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
