Braves Beat Reds 4-2 in Front of Record Crowd at Speedway Classic
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in the resumption of the MLB Speedway Classic, a historic regular-season game held at Bristol Motor Speedway. Originally suspended due to rain on Saturday night, the game resumed at 1 p.m. Sunday with a crowd of 91,032 fans—the largest paid attendance in MLB regular-season history.
Eli White provided the offensive spark for Atlanta, becoming the first MLB player to homer at a NASCAR track. He crushed a three-run shot in the second inning to put the Braves ahead and later added a solo homer in the seventh, finishing with four RBIs. On the mound, rookie Hurston Waldrep, called up just hours before first pitch, delivered 5⅔ innings of one-run ball to earn his first career Major League win.
The game wasn’t without drama. Braves third baseman Austin Riley, just back from the injured list, left early with lower abdominal pain. Luke Williams came in and made a diving stop in the eighth to prevent a Reds rally and protect Atlanta’s lead. Despite the unusual setting, the Braves handled the moment with poise, capping a memorable weekend with a win in one of baseball’s most unique showcases.
Eli White provided the offensive spark for Atlanta, becoming the first MLB player to homer at a NASCAR track. He crushed a three-run shot in the second inning to put the Braves ahead and later added a solo homer in the seventh, finishing with four RBIs. On the mound, rookie Hurston Waldrep, called up just hours before first pitch, delivered 5⅔ innings of one-run ball to earn his first career Major League win.
The game wasn’t without drama. Braves third baseman Austin Riley, just back from the injured list, left early with lower abdominal pain. Luke Williams came in and made a diving stop in the eighth to prevent a Reds rally and protect Atlanta’s lead. Despite the unusual setting, the Braves handled the moment with poise, capping a memorable weekend with a win in one of baseball’s most unique showcases.