Hollywood ending to game that’s homage to 1989 movie

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning into the cornfield to end the “Field of Dreams” game in cinematic fashion, as the White Sox outslugged the Yankees 9-8 on Thursday 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 7,832 fans 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 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each hit two-run homers for the Yankees in the top of the ninth off All-Star closer Liam Hendriks, as the moviethemed throwback event became a homer-hitting contest into the cornfield.

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

And it had a Hollywood finish, too, with the gameending 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 homers for the White Sox.

League ERA leader Lance Lynn sidestepped a three-run homer by Judge and a solo shot from Brett Gardner to finish five innings for the White Sox.

Jimenez had a three-run shot in the third inning. Then Zavala added a two-run homer 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.

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Members of the White Sox and the Yankees take the field by coming through a cornfield prior to their matchup in Iowa.

Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune / TNS Chicago’s Tim Anderson (7) prepares to be mobbed by his teammates following his game-ending, two-run homer.