Spanish
Bristol, Tennessee .— The long-awaited MLB Speedway Classic experienced a historic and colorful start at the Bristol Motor Speedway, but rain forced the suspension of the inaugural game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds after only one out in the bottom of the first inning. The game will resume this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX.
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The opening ceremony, which marked the first matchup of the American League and the National League held in the state of Tennessee and the first within a racing venue, was successfully held before the arrival of bad weather. In the brief stretch played, local opener Chase Burns —a native of the region and former University of Tennessee player— ignited excitement with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball to strike out Austin Riley and close out Atlanta's first inning without damage. Immediately afterwards, the Reds took a 1-0 lead with consecutive singles from Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Austin Hays. The festive atmosphere included nods to motorsports. Star pitcher Andrew Abbott entered the field wearing an authentic suit of the legendary NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, while catcher Tyler Stephenson wore a protector inspired by the movie Talladega Nights. For his part, José Trevino sported spikes with a Lightning McQueen design, a character from the animated film Cars. Fans will have to wait one more day to meet the winner of this historic clash, which combines the passion for baseball with the speed and spectacle of the racing world.
