Following great pomp and pageantry to celebrate the first MLB Speedway Classic, the skies opened above the famous Bristol Motor Speedway and rain delayed the start of the historic contest between the Braves and Reds by two hours and 17 minutes. The game eventually got underway, but was suspended with one out in the bottom of the first inning.
The game will resume at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday on FOX. The Bristol Motor Speedway gates will open at 10 a.m., and tickets for Saturday’s originally scheduled game will be honored Sunday.
“It is what it is on our side, but mainly I hate it for the fans,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It was an unbelievable crowd out here and the atmosphere pregame was incredible. Hopefully a lot of those folks stick around for tomorrow.”
Braves scheduled starting pitcher Spencer Strider was scratched because he had completed his warmup before the start of the game was delayed minutes before scheduled first pitch of 7:15 p.m.
Both teams are expected to wait until Sunday to announce who will pitch when play resumes.
Chase Burns made his scheduled start for the Reds despite the long delay. Burns recorded two strikeouts in a perfect first inning. He will not be available to pitch when the game resumes on Sunday.
Austin Cox made an emergency start once Strider was scratched. He allowed three consecutive one-out singles, including Austin Hays’ RBI single before the game was halted and eventually suspended.
While the game itself wasn’t completed on Saturday, weather didn’t disrupt the pregame festivities and the fun ways that players, broadcasters and others got into the spirit of the event, which is the first AL/NL game played in the state of Tennessee, not to mention the first to be played inside a racing venue.
Here’s a look at some of the notable sights and sounds from Bristol on Saturday.
Burns hits 100 mph, Reds on the board first
Burns, who played high school baseball about 100 miles away from Bristol and attended the University of Tennessee for two years before transferring to Wake Forest.
In the bottom of the first, Cincinnati got on the board first thanks to three consecutive singles from Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz and Austin Hays to make it 1-0.
Reds players embrace the theme of the day
Whether they were racing fans or not, a few Reds players and staff went all-in on the racing look. As he walked in to check out the playing field, All-Star starting pitcher Andrew Abbott was sporting an authentic firesuit that belonged to NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace. It also had the sleeves cut off.
“It’s a special game,” Abbott said. “I wanted to do something just to wear in. I grew up around NASCAR. I just went on eBay and found a couple options. Luckily that’s the one that arrived in time. I know who Rusty Wallace is, too, and actually know the backstory behind it.”
Meanwhile, catcher Tyler Stephenson ordered special gear for the game that pays homage to his favorite actor, Will Ferrell, and the movie, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” His chest protector was in the colors of Ricky Bobby’s race car from the movie.
“I was just thinking of stuff to do and reached out to the EvoShield people. I was thinking of a NASCAR theme – and ‘Talladega Nights.’ It’s a classic movie. They did a great job and decided to wear it.”
The other Reds catcher, Jose Trevino, also went with the movie racing idea. Trevino had special spikes made that resemble the look of Lightning McQueen from the Pixar animated film “Cars.”
Before the game was delayed, there was a concert that featured musical performances from country superstar Tim McGraw along with pop artist Pitbull and country music star Jake Owen.
To celebrate its upcoming 250th birthday in October, the U.S. Navy was front and center with MU1 Kathryn Dobyns performing the national anthem with the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard providing the colors. The flyover was four Navy F/A 18 Super Hornet jets from VFA-103 of the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach.
Prior to the first rain delay, there was a Hall of Fame and NASCAR themed ceremonial first pitch. Former Braves third baseman Chipper Jones threw a first pitch to Chase Elliot, while Big Red Machine catching great Johnny Bench caught Kyle Busch’s first pitch.
