Eli White's 2 HRs & Hurston Waldrep's debut win led the Braves past the Reds 4-2 on Aug 3, 2025. See how unlikely heroes stole the show at Bristol!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a season that's tested the patience of Braves Country, the team delivered a uniquely memorable win on a strange Sunday. At the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, journeyman Eli White played the hero, launching two home runs to single-handedly drive the Braves to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the rain-delayed Speedway Classic. The win was made even sweeter by a gutsy performance from rookie Hurston Waldrep, who earned his first MLB win in his debut.
All four Braves runs came off the bat of one man: Eli White, whose two home runs were the difference-maker at Bristol.
The setting was anything but ordinary. After Saturday's start was washed out, the Braves and Reds completed their series finale at a NASCAR track. The Braves finally broke the trend of nail-biters against Cincinnati, securing the first win in the season series decided by more than one run. The key moment came in the second inning when Eli White blasted a three-run shot to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead. He wasn't done, adding a solo insurance homer in the seventh, his fifth and sixth of the year, to seal the 4-2 win and clinch the season series.
The win wouldn't have been possible without Hurston Waldrep. Called up from Triple-A Gwinnett, the young pitcher traveled 250 miles early Sunday morning just to make the start. He showed no signs of fatigue or nerves, turning in 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball to earn his first-ever Major League victory. It was a gutsy, impressive performance that offered a welcome glimpse of the future on a day dedicated to celebrating the present.
While the win at Bristol was a fun distraction, it can't mask the reality of the 2025 season. With the team 16 games out of the division, the front office opted for a quiet trade deadline, frustrating many fans hoping for a blockbuster. Instead of major additions, the Braves made minor moves to shore up the roster for the stretch run. They acquired veteran starters Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco to eat innings and took a flyer on reliever Tyler Kinley from Colorado, whose underlying metrics are more promising than his 5.55 ERA. These moves signal a pivot towards salvaging innings and evaluating potential pieces for 2026, rather than a push for this October.
As the high from the Speedway Classic fades, the focus shifts to the final stretch of a challenging season. Newly acquired starter Erick Fedde gets the ball Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, offering the first look at the team's deadline strategy in action. While the postseason may be a long shot, performances like those from White and Waldrep are reminders that there are still moments of excitement to be found. The rest of the season will be about finding more of these bright spots and seeing who will be part of the solution moving forward.
