Eli White’s two home runs led the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, witnessed by an MLB-record crowd of 91,032. The game, originally started on Saturday but suspended in the bottom of the first inning, marked the first Major League Baseball game played in Tennessee.
White’s Key Homers Propel Braves Ahead
White delivered a three-run homer in the fifth inning off Reds pitcher Brent Suter, followed by a solo shot in the seventh against Scott Barlow, bringing his season total to six home runs. This performance was White’s second multi-home run game in his career and proved crucial in securing the Braves’ lead.
Pitching Performances Define Game’s Outcome
The Braves’ victory was supported by starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, who earned the win by pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing one run on three hits, walking two batters and striking out four in his first major league appearance this season. Waldrep took over after Austin Cox, who started Saturday’s brief portion of the game and surrendered one run in one-third of an inning.
On the Reds’ side, Chase Burns started the game on Saturday but was replaced by Brent Suter when play resumed. Suter pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and four hits while recording two strikeouts. Closer Raisel Iglesias secured his 14th save by navigating through the ninth inning, overcoming two leadoff singles by Braves’ batters TJ Friedl and Matt McLain.
Reds’ Missed Opportunities and Braves’ Resilience
The Reds scored early runs with an RBI single from Austin Hays in the first inning and a sacrifice fly by Matt McLain in the third, narrowing the Braves’ lead to 3-2. However, Cincinnati’s offense stalled, notably leaving 12 runners on base and going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. In the eighth inning, despite loading the bases, the Reds failed to capitalize when Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded into a force out to end the inning.
Player Health and Team Progress Amid Road Trip
Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley exited the game early due to lower right abdominal pain, a recurrence of an injury that sidelined him earlier in July. The Braves concluded a challenging 3-6 road trip and earned their first series win since mid-July with this victory over Cincinnati.
Significance of the Historic Game and What’s Ahead
The Speedway Classic set a new attendance record for Major League Baseball and demonstrated the sport’s expanding reach into new regions like Tennessee. Eli White’s standout performance, combined with solid pitching and timely defense, provided a foundation for Atlanta as they look to build momentum after a difficult stretch on the road.