The anticipated baseball celebration at Bristol Motor Speedway, known as the “Speedway Classic”, was marred by rain on Saturday night, marking an unfortunate start to the match between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds.The game, which promised to be historic as the first regular season game in Tennessee, was suspended in the first inning due to heavy rainfall.The suspension occurred after an initial delay of 2 hours and 17 minutes, and the game is expected to resume on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
A beginning marked by rain
The event, which combined baseball with the NASCAR atmosphere, began with a first pitch ceremony by Hall of Fame figures such as Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones, along with NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.The rain caused problems for the players, with a bat flying out of TJ Friedl’s hands and a pitcher struggling to keep his balance.MLB had planned this event as part of its strategy to bring baseball to places where it is not regularly played, following the success of the games at the “Field of Dreams” in Iowa.The Reds’ pitcher, Andrew Abbott, even sported a modified NASCAR racing suit, showcasing his connection to the world of motorsports.Before the rain, fans enjoyed a wide variety of activities, including a 110-foot Ferris wheel, food stalls, live music, and photo opportunities with the Commissioner’s Trophy.The players were presented in vans that circled the racetrack before the game was suspended.The rain forced the Braves to change their starting pitcher, opting for Austin Cox instead of Spencer Strider.We are going to suspend tonight’s game. We are optimistic about a better weather forecast for tomorrow.
Michael Hill, Senior Vice President of Field Operations at MLB
