On Thursday, the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox played the first “Field of Dreams” game in MLB history, a very exciting recreation of the 1989 movie that captivated baseball fans everywhere.
The game itself was incredibly exciting: MLB couldn’t have planned for a better outcome, one that included a high-scoring affair with lots of home runs into the corn and a walk-off blast in favor of the White Sox.
The game was played n Dyersfield, Iowa, in a neatly-constructed 8,000-seat stadium near the field used in the movie.
Here are the three highlights of the night.
3. The Entrance, Setup, And Atmosphere
Players were fascinated by the tour of the farmhouse, the cornfields, the stadium, and the nostalgia of a classic baseball movie.
The setup, the presence of lead actor Kevin Costner, and the entrance were really, really cool.
Build it, and they will come.
Indeed, they did come.
Players entered the diamond via the outfield, through the cornfields.
This entrance is everything. #MLBatFieldofDreams pic.twitter.com/ve6Q0Rmuff
— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2021
It was a fantastic experience, one that players, coaches, and fans will remember for a long time.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has already said the experience will be repeated next year.
“It was as special and breathtaking a setting for a baseball game that I can ever remember being a part of,” were the words of manager Aaron Boone, according to MLB.com.
Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner also had a lot to say:
“Just a first-class experience all the way around. I’ve never been here in the state of Iowa, so it was a beautiful, beautiful countryside. I thought the ballpark and the atmosphere and the old field over there was really special to be a part of. It was something we had been looking forward to for a long time. It didn’t disappoint.”
2. Giancarlo Stanton’s Blast
The White Sox dominated most of the game, thanks to homers by Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez, and Seby Zavala in the early innings.
However, the Yankees hitters, who have struggled for most of the year (at least to their lofty standards), actually flipped the score of the game in the ninth inning.
Trailing 7-4 in the last frame, the Bombers hit a pair of two-run home runs to take an unthinkable 8-7 lead.
The term ‘unthinkable’ applies when All-World closer Liam Hendriks is on the mound.
However, he allowed a couple of two-run bombs, one by Aaron Judge, and the other one by Giancarlo Stanton.
A 4-RUN 9TH FOR THE YANKEES. 😱 #MLBatFieldofDreams pic.twitter.com/8NfIvaPVdW
— MLB (@MLB) August 13, 2021
The Yankees, therefore, headed to the bottom of the ninth leading.
1. Tim Anderson’s Walk-Off Homer
However, the White Sox would have the last laugh.
Zack Britton, acting as the closer by virtue of Aroldis Chapman injury, got an early out before walking the ninth hitter, Savala.
That proved to be the nail in the coffin.
The next batter, shortstop and leadoff hitter Tim Anderson, hit a game-winning home run to right-center that signaled an incredible ending to a special night in MLB.
A #walkoff into the corn at #MLBatFieldofDreams.
Couldn't write a better script. pic.twitter.com/D3I6yyzDPW
— MLB (@MLB) August 13, 2021
Upon hitting his home run, Anderson showed off his swag by making Vince Carter’s “it’s over” sign repeatedly.
Both teams brought their best and the end result was a fantastic game in the cornfields of Iowa.
Between the two teams, there were eight homers, four for each club.
Judge belted two, while Stanton, Gardner, Savala, Abreu, Jimenez, and Anderson had one apiece.
It was a magical night for baseball fans.
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