BRISTOL, Tenn. — Eli White hit a three-run homer and a solo shot, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Sunday in the rain-delayed MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.
White’s first homer of the afternoon gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead in the second inning at the historic racetrack. The ball hit the safer barrier after clearing the outfield wall and the track itself.
He added his sixth homer of the season on a leadoff shot in the seventh.
Cincinnati went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base. Brent Suter (1-2) got the loss.
Atlanta came in having clinched the season series, winning four of the first six games. The teams split the first two in Cincinnati before coming to Bristol.
The game was scheduled for Saturday, but it was suspended in the first inning because of persistent rain.
Hurston Waldrep (1-0) was on the mound for Atlanta when play resumed. The right-hander was brought up from Triple-A Gwinnett and traveled about 250 miles to Bristol Motor Speedway early Sunday morning. He pitched 5⅔ innings of one-run ball for his first career win.
“Wake up at 4:45, got in the car a little after 5, drove here with my girlfriend. Got here 9:45 or so. Everything since then, it’s been nonstop,” Waldrep said. “Didn’t really have time to sit here and think about how it all happened. Nonetheless, grateful for it, happy to be here. It’s been an unbelievable day.”
Braves third baseman Austin Riley left early in the resumed game with lower abdominal pain after making a diving infield play in the first inning. He later exited the game in the third inning.
“It was one of those things where he wasn’t sure about batting,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said, according to MLB.com. “I told him, if [the aggravated muscle] goes, you’re looking at the end of the year on the IL. Hopefully, it’s not bad.”
Riley, a two-time All-Star, was on the IL with a right abdominal strain from July 12 to July 25. He is hitting .260 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
