On Sunday evening, the Miami Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-2 and both teams made history by playing the first ever regular-season professional game of any kind on an active military base.
The two teams played at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the game was ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball game of the week. The game was also the first Major League Baseball game played in the state of North Carolina. Nearly every fan who attended the game was a resident of Fort Bragg.
The game was scoreless until the Marlins plated two runs off Braves starter Matt Wisler in the top half of the fifth inning. The Marlins, who are contending for a playoff spot, tacked on three much-needed insurance runs as starter Adam Conley and relievers David Phelps and newly-acquired Fernando Rodney shut out the Braves through eight innings. Miami closer A.J. Ramos struggled in the bottom of the ninth, as he is prone to doing when coming on in non-save situations, giving up two runs.
The 82nd Airborne did a flyover before the game:
Sure we gave it to @espn first – but here's the shot from the @82ndCAB's perspective! #MLB pic.twitter.com/jVIcO36zOc
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
Does NOT get better than this. Huge shoutout to @82ndCAB and @PantherBrigade! #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/BqifJijOk4
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
Major League Baseball presented an unoccupied “chair of honor” dedicated to POWs/MIA who sacrificed for America.
Chair of Honor – Never forgotten. #MLBFortBragg @MLB @MLB_PLAYERS @Braves @Marlins @82ndABNDiv pic.twitter.com/mt0uf2Flo4
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
Major League Baseball built a 12,500-seat ballpark, Fort Bragg Field, on the North Carolina base for the game, which was “created in a joint effort by MLB and the MLB Players Association to honor” America’s servicemen and servicewomen.
Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich, who has a 24-year-old brother in the Marines, said, “We try to do as much as we can, for the military, for our veterans.”
The Braves’s A.J. Pierzynski, whose high school teammate is now stationed at Fort Bragg, told MLB.com, “These military guys that we’re going to be around are the real heroes who give us an opportunity to do what we do every day.”
”It truly is an honor to be able to be a part of something like this,” Pierzynksi added.
The field will remain on the base and reportedly be “converted to a permanent softball facility for the soldiers and their families.”
Players from both teams spent time with the troops before the game. Here are some scenes from the event:
The @82ndABNDiv chorus sings God Bless America @ the #MLBFortBragg game & they did amazing! @MLB @MLB_PLAYERS pic.twitter.com/1Nom7hkVQ1
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
This is what it's all about. Thank you to all our service members! #MLBFortBragg @MLB @82ndABNDiv @MLB_PLAYERS pic.twitter.com/6Mr2R3aYAQ
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
Amazing flyover at #MLBFortBragg @82ndABNDiv @FtBraggNC pic.twitter.com/mivYtwAnyF
— Mike Teevan (@MRTeevs) July 4, 2016
Hubert Edwards, WWII vet, meets MLB players @ the Meet & Greet at the 2BCT/18FiB DFAC before the #MLBFortBragg game. pic.twitter.com/eHgMjlgDUC
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 3, 2016
SFC Alex Burnett w/ @82ndABNDiv & Joel De La Cruz, @Braves switch hats before the #MLBFortBragg game. @MLB pic.twitter.com/Z1mV0UQZQQ
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 3, 2016
They're here! @Marlins are meeting Family Members during the meet and greet before the #MLBFortBragg game tonight! pic.twitter.com/wLiDwB3vP7
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 3, 2016
He caught this! #MLBFortBragg @chevrolet pic.twitter.com/7oqyCgcoUC
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2016
#MLBFortBragg jerseys 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rgDJOcJUV6
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 3, 2016
Decked out in 🇺🇸! #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/22X6oVVfks
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2016
We tip our caps to all who have made #FtBraggGame possible. And special thanks to all @FtBraggNC for what they do! pic.twitter.com/flERbEUmuC
— #MLBPA (@MLB_PLAYERS) July 4, 2016
Let's play ball! #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/IvRykk2AoJ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 4, 2016
At Fort Bragg NC for the first ever major league game on an active military base. Marlins vs Braves. #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/ogY78a808f
— Jeff Conine (@jic9er) July 4, 2016
Chills. 🇺🇸#MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/WMEh1B5gk4
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 4, 2016
The first-ever professional sporting event held on a military base begins now. Play ball!#MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/2UyMWoc7Hf
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 4, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: GREAT turnout to have lunch with the players of #MLBFortBragg! https://t.co/8tOfvSJcQK
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 3, 2016
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.