Anderson produces movie-like outcome

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — Tim Anderson hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning into the cornfield to end the Field of Dreams game in cinematic fashion, as the Chicago White Sox outslugged the New York Yankees 9-8 Thursday night in the first Major League Baseball game in Iowa.

Anderson, who was clearly having as much fun as anyone in attendance and had an earlier RBI double, danced his way around the bases and wiggled his hands around his neck as he headed for home and the celebratory dousing at the plate from his teammates.

That sent the crowd of 7,832 back through the corn and to their cars after a light and fireworks show at the made-from-scratch stadium next to the filming site of the beloved 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner. Even the Yankees fans who made the trek could hardly have headed home anything but happy with the experience.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each hit two-run home runs for the Yankees in the top of the ninth off AllStar closer Liam Hendriks, as the movie-themed throwback event became a home run hitting contest into the cornfield.

This was precisely the thrill many players hoped aloud for prior to the night. There were eight longballs in all, two by Judge.

And it had a Hollywood finish, too, with the game-saving shot by Anderson. So what if it was more from “The Natural” than “Field of Dreams”?

Jose Abreu hit the first drive into the sea of green stalks, and teammates Eloy Jimenez and Seby Zavala followed him with home runs for the White Sox.

Hendriks (7-2) wound up with the win when Anderson connected off Zack Britton (0-1).

League ERA leader Lance Lynn sidestepped a threerun home run by Judge and a solo shot from Brett Gardner to finish five innings for the White Sox, remaining unbeaten in his last eight starts.

Jimenez had a three-run shot in the third inning. Then Zavala added a two-run home run in the fourth to hang seven runs on Yankees starter Andrew Heaney, who lasted five innings on this vintage summer night in farm country with the teams in 1919-style uniforms to match.

Costner started the evening with a star’s entrance, slowly walking out of the cornrows like Shoeless Joe Jackson and his ghost- like teammates did in the film before turning to watch the players do the same for their made-for-TV pregame introductions. Costner’s address to the fans included the obligatory question in ode to the famous line from the movie, “Is this heaven?”

No, it’s Iowa, but MLB will be back, as Commissioner Rob Manfred promised for 2022, the teams still to be determined.

(AP/Charlie Neibergall) New York Yankees outfielders Brett Gardner (left) and Aaron Judge chase a double by Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox during Thursday’s game in Dyersville, Iowa. The Yankees and White Sox played at a temporary stadium in the middle of a cornfield at the “Field of Dreams” movie site, the first major league baseball game held in Iowa.

(AP/Charlie Neibergall) Tim Anderson and the Chicago White Sox celebrate at home plate Thursday after Anderson’s two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the White Sox a 9-8 victory over the New York Yankees in the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa.