Atlanta Braves Conquer the Speedway Classic with Eli White’s Double Home Run and Waldrep’s Victory
In a historic and unique day, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Cincinnati Reds with a score of 4-2 in the exciting Speedway Classic, held at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. The victory, marked by memorable moments, featured the outstanding performance of Eli White, who hit two impressive home runs, and the first Major League victory for pitcher Hurston Waldrep. White, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr. due to an injury, became the first player in history to hit two home runs on a NASCAR track. His first hit, a tremendous three-run homer against Brent Suter in the second inning, traveled 411 feet and landed beyond left field. In the seventh inning, he repeated the feat against Scott Barlow. The young pitcher Hurston Waldrep, considered the fourth-best prospect for the Braves according to MLB Pipeline, was called up in an emergency after the game was suspended on Saturday due to rain. After a five-hour road trip, Waldrep responded with a solid performance, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing only one run, with four strikeouts and two walks.The victory not only signified a personal achievement for Waldrep, selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft, but also left an indelible mark for White, who celebrated his achievements in an improvised winners’ zone with a trophy in the style of NASCAR champions. This historic triumph united Major League Baseball with the atmosphere of auto racing, creating an unforgettable event for players and fans.It was really good, very impressive.
Brian Snitker, manager of the Braves
