Rain Suspends MLB Classic in Bristol: Braves vs Reds Postponed

The excitement faded at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night. The anticipated match between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, known as the Speedway Classic, was marred by rain, forcing the game to be suspended in the first inning.The game will resume on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, as scheduled.The historic racetrack witnessed a first interruption after the ceremonial launch, which featured the participation of baseball legends such as Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones, along with NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott. The second interruption, with one out in the bottom of the first inning, led to the postponement of the game for a day.The fans who endured the initial 2-hour and 17-minute delay began to leave the stadium before the game was postponed, with the Reds leading 1-0. This setback was a blow to the planned event that merged baseball and NASCAR.

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

The rain made things difficult for the players before the suspension. A bat slipped from TJ Friedl’s hands at the start for the Reds, and a pitcher appeared to lose his balance while covering first base.The Speedway Classic was announced almost a year ago as part of Commissioner Rob Manfred’s effort to bring MLB to places where baseball is not played daily.The Reds pitcher, Andrew Abbott, showed up on Saturday afternoon in Bristol sporting a cropped version of a NASCAR racing suit.

I grew up with NASCAR. I went to eBay and found a couple of options, and fortunately that was the one that arrived on time. I had a couple of backups. I also know who Rusty Wallace is, so I really know the history behind this.

Andrew Abbott

Long before the fans left in the rain, they enjoyed a 110-foot Ferris wheel, as well as food trucks, live music, pitching tunnels, and batting cages. Fans also had the opportunity to take photos with the Commissioner’s Trophy and the Clydesdales outside the historic racetrack.

Inside the stadium, the star Tim McGraw performed, accompanied by Pitbull.

Before the weather intensified, the players stood in the back of pickup trucks with their numbers emblazoned on the sides and toured the half-mile racetrack. Some used their phones to document the moment. For the introductions, the Braves and Reds walked between a pair of cars decorated with the colors of Atlanta and Cincinnati.Then, the canvas came out as the rain that had been falling in Bristol for much of Saturday intensified and delayed the start.The first delay led the Braves to change their starting pitchers. Spencer Strider, who grew up near Knoxville, received a bigger ovation than the Reds’ starter, Chase Burns, who is from Hendersonville and played at the University of Tennessee. The Reds stuck with Burns despite the delay.

Strider warmed up. The Braves chose not to risk his third start in this situation after a second elbow surgery and turned to Austin Cox.The rain stopped long enough to remove the tarp and start the game.Michael Waltrip, who raced a lot in Bristol, restarted the festivities by quoting his brother Darrell: “Boogity, boogity, boogity. Let’s play baseball, boys!”Atlanta was retired in order in the top of the first inning. But there was another rain delay after Austin Hays hit an RBI single for Cincinnati in the bottom.MLB did not attempt to sell all tickets inside the Speedway, which drew 156,990 people for the college football Battle of Bristol game in 2016. The track, with a racing capacity of 146,000, could hold 90,000 or more even with blocked sections.Officials announced on Monday that more than 85,000 tickets had been sold, surpassing the previous paid attendance of 84,587 set on September 12, 1954, when Cleveland Stadium hosted the New York Yankees.A batter has to clear 400 feet to get something out of center field, 375 in the alleys, and 330 down each baseline. Connecting a ball down the line increases the chance of a ball bouncing out of the track beyond the outfield wall.

Honestly, my first thought: I can’t believe they did all this for a single game. Being able to set all this up, prepare a playing surface, place the stands to have the right view, it’s incredible.

Matt Olson, Braves first baseman