The Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds faced off at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night in a significant event for Major League Baseball, marking the first game played in the state of Tennessee. Scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET, the game was delayed initially due to inclement weather and finally commenced with a first pitch at 9:40 p.m. ET. However, the contest was interrupted once more before either team could complete an inning, prompting a second weather-related suspension.

As the match faced further delays, Major League Baseball announced that the remainder of the game would be rescheduled for Sunday, with play set to resume at 1 p.m. ET. Chase Burns took the mound for Cincinnati, navigating through a scoreless first inning, while Braves pitcher Austin Cox encountered four batters in the bottom of the first before the game was suspended. Cox managed to strike out TJ Friedl but later yielded hits to Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Austin Hays, with Hays driving in McLain to put the Reds ahead 1-0. The game will resume with one out recorded in the bottom of the first and runners on first and second base.

The pregame atmosphere was enhanced by an introduction from actor Liam Neeson, and players honored the unique setting with their choice of uniforms and accessories. Grammy Award winners Tim McGraw and Pitbull also participated in the event, meeting with Reds players in their clubhouse after performing a concert prior to the game. Notably, All-Star starting pitcher Andrew Abbott arrived wearing a sleeveless race suit autographed by Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion. Both teams were driven around the track before the game officially began, which featured a special NASCAR-themed introduction for the starting lineups. Bristol Motor Speedway, which typically accommodates 146,000 spectators for NASCAR events, saw over 85,000 tickets sold for this unique baseball matchup. Reds manager Terry Francona expressed his admiration for the field's construction, noting, 'When you get outside of the field, it’s actually pretty cool,' as reported by Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press. This matchup is crucial for Cincinnati, currently sitting 3.5 games behind the final National League wild card position with a 58-53 record, and 8.5 games shy of the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central. In contrast, the Braves hold the No. 4 position in the NL East with a 46-63 record.