The Speedway Classic

A few years ago, the first-ever football game inside a racetrack took place. The first-ever baseball game inside a racetrack, held at the Bristol Motor Speedway, was put on the schedule for August 2nd of this year. In turn, it would also be the first Major League game to be played in Tennessee, as the Atlanta Braves faced off against the Cincinnati Reds!

Unfortunately, August 2nd arrived with a relentlessly rainy forecast, and the grounds crew could only do so much to prevent it from being postponed. However, both teams were supposed to have a rare Sunday off, so the game could just pick back up where it left off after one run scored by the Reds in the bottom of the first the previous night. 

23-year-old Hurston Waldrep, the Braves’ top pitching prospect, was called up for the remainder of the suspended game taking place on Sunday. He went 5.2 innings strong, allowing just his own one run, even with coming in mid-bottom-of-the-first with runners on base. He struck out four and walked just two, giving up a minimal three hits. Since then, he has been a part of the Braves’ otherwise lacking starting pitching rotation.

Eli White, a utility outfielder filling in for Ronald Acuña, Jr. in right (RAJ suffered a calf strain a week earlier that deserved a good forehead massage from fans), was the most valuable player, believe it or not. He hit a three-run homer to put his team on top, as well as a solo shot to add on late in the game. The Reds, particularly speedster Elly De La Cruz, had constant success when it came to snagging bases, even with veteran Sean Murphy behind the dish and swift-tagging Nick Allen on the flipside. However, with the Braves’ improving offense (Michael Harris II deep in his turnaround after a pitiful first half of the season), it simply wasn’t enough to get them within go-ahead proximity. 

The Braves took it 4-2 in the end, and Waldrep earned his first big-league win. So, while the Atlanta team struggles in reality, at least fans can say, “Hey! Look on the bright side! They’re undefeated at racetracks!”