Led by pitcher Drew Smyly and a 10-hit barrage, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Thursday in Major Leagues Baseball’s second “Field of Dreams” game.
Standing in rows of Iowa cornstalks, Nico Hoerner of the Cubs had Cincinnati Reds legendary catcher Johnny Bench on his left and Cubs great Billy Williams right beside him.
“Pretty incredible,” Hoerner said.
Nick Madrigal had three hits for the Cubs in a vintage ballpark in walking distance from the main field used for the 1989 classic film “Field of Dreams.” Smyly, who came into the game with a 5-6 record on the year, pitched five shutout innings and Ian Happ contributed two hits, including an RBI double that brought in Hoerner during a fast-paced start for the Cubs.
“The atmosphere was amazing,” Chicago manager David Ross said. “Really cool event.”
The night started off magically with Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and his father Ken Griffey Sr. emerging from the famous outfield cornstalks for their own rendition of a memorable scene from the film, captivating the capacity crowd of 7,823.
“Hey dad, do you wanna have a catch,” Junior said. “I’d like that,” Senior said.
The father and son then played a game of catch as parents accompanied their children on the field, with their own equipment (balls and gloves), followed by the two franchises dressed in special throw-back uniforms inspired by how the teams looked in the early 1900’s.
Williams and Bench were among the multitude of Hall of Famers representing each organization that was on hand for the celebration. Bench took his place behind the plate for a ceremonial first pitch from Ferguson Jenkins.
“What they’ve done here is incredible. … I think every baseball player should experience this,” Reds third baseman Kyle Farmer said.
Helped by Chicago’s three-run opening inning, Smyly improved to 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA in his last four outings. The left hander gave up four hits and allowed two free passes, while celebrating his daughter Parker’s fifth birthday.
Rowan Wick came in and worked the ninth for his seventh save of the season.
“A game like this … you just feel like a kid again,” Smyly said. “You’re just out there playing baseball in the middle of Iowa.”
Cincinnati lost their fourth consecutive game. Matt Reynolds hit a two-run jack in the seventh but the Reds, who are bringing up the rear in the NL central division, went down 1,2,3 in the final two innings.
MLB made its much-anticipated return to Dyersville, which is a small town of 4,400, after its inaugural “Field of Dreams” game was a huge success. The Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees in a 9-8 slugfest on Tim Anderson’s electric longball last year in the first MLB game in Iowa.
The sequel lacked the scoring and the dramatic effect of the original contest. Chicago and Cincinnati fell out of the race for a playoff spot months ago, and the Cubs seized control from the outset against Nick Lodolo (3-4).
Seiya Suzuki and Happ each smacked an RBI double in the first, and Hoerner had a run-scoring base hit. The rally began after Lodolo retired the first two hitters.
“I didn’t make pitches when I needed to when I was ahead in the count,” Lodolo said.
Madrigal added insurance on an RBI single for a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
The 1989 movie starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Amy Madigan. Liotta, who played the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson, died in May at age 67. Costner narrated a tribute video for Liotta that was aired in the first.
“Long live Shoeless Joe and long live Ray,” Costner said.
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz called the game for Fox Sports with a heavy heart after his father, John Adam Smoltz, died earlier in the day.
“He lived by his faith, he loved family and he would be so mad if I didn’t do this game,” the 55-year-old Smoltz said during the broadcast.
A hologram of the legendary Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch, bringing the spectators, including Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, to its feet.
Cubs’ catcher Wilson Contreras appeared to injure his left ankle when he attempted to hurry back to second base after rounding the bag on Patrick Wisdom’s single in the third. He was tagged out, but returned behind the plate for the bottom of the inning.
Reds second baseman Jonathan India sustained a leg contusion and was subbed out by Reynolds before the fourth inning got underway. He was struck on his lower left leg by a pitch in the first. Manager David Bell said India is day to day.
Following a day off on Friday, the three-game series picks up on Saturday in Cincinnati.
