Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning of the “Field of Dreams” game on Thursday night in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki hits a one-run double against the Cincinnati Reds during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Patrick Wisdom scores as Cincinnati Reds catcher Austin Romine (28) waits for the throw in the first inning of a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws against the Chicago Cubs during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs’ Nelson Velazquez celebrates with Patrick Wisdom (16) after scoring in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki fields a ball against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning of a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Workers change the scoreboard during a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Kyle Farmer tags the Chicago Cubs’ P.J. Higgins (48) in the fourth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Kyle Farmer tags Chicago Cubs’ P.J. Higgins (48) in the fourth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) throws the ball in after a Cincinnati Reds Donovan Solano hit in the third inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Cincinnati Reds’ Jonathan India reacts to being hit by a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Former Chicago White Sox player Frank Thomas watches during a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras grabs his ankle as he is tagged out by Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India (6) in the third inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal can’t reach a hit by Cincinnati Reds’ Matt Reynolds (4) in the fifth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Christopher Morel shatters his bat against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Buck Farmer throws against the Chicago Cubs in the sixth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Actor Timothy Busfield, right, watches during a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Cincinnati Reds’ Matt Reynolds hits a two-run double against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Cincinnati Reds’ Jose Barrero scores against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Hughes throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, left, and relief pitcher Brandon Hughes (47) talk after the final out of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki scores in the first inning during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Actor Dwier Brown cheers during a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Albert Almora Jr. (3) catches a Chicago Cubs Willson Contreras fly ball in the ninth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Albert Almora Jr. (3) catches a Chicago Cubs Willson Contreras fly ball in the ninth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Albert Almora Jr. (3) catches a Chicago Cubs Willson Contreras fly ball in the ninth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick celebrates the final out against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. The Cubs won 4-2. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Ken Griffey Jr., left, and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., walk on to the field before a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the “Field of Dreams” movie site on Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Ken Griffey Jr., left, and his father Ken Griffey Sr., play catch before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki plays against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds players walk onto the field before a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Barrero, left, and Aristides Aquino kneel in the outfield before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Former Cincinnati Reds player Johnny Bench stands with former players before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds players stand with fans for the national anthem before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs players stand for the national anthem before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Former Cincinnati Reds player Johnny Bench, left, and former Chicago Cubs player Ferguson Jenkins stand together before a baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
A fan holds a ball and glove waiting for autographs before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Cincinnati Reds’ Hunter Greene signs items for fans before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Chicago Cubs’ Wade Miley watches warmups before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs manager David Ross, left, talks with Wade Miley, right, before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
A fan watches the Cincinnati Reds take batting practice before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Field of Dreams “ghost” player Russ Bolibaugh, left, of Dyersville, Iowa, talks with Chicago Cubs center fielder Rafael Ortega, right, before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki walks out of a cornfield before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki walks past a row of corn before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Cincinnati Reds’ Alejo Lopez throws during warmups for a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs players pose for a team photo on the field before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick takes a photo on the field before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cincinnati Reds players pose for a team photo before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman poses for a photo before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Cubs players pose for a photo before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
A fan walks through a cornfield behind center field before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
DYERSVILLE, Iowa — After the Griffeys played catch in Iowa, Drew Smyly took over.
Smyly struck out nine in five scoreless innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2, on Thursday night in Major League Baseball’s second annual “Field of Dreams” game.
Seiya Suzuki reached three times and Nick Madrigal had three hits for Chicago in a throwback ballpark a short walk away from the main field for the beloved 1989 movie. Ian Happ had two hits and drove in a run.
“It’s really magic,” Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said of the field. “It has some kind of energy that I think is real.”
The night began with Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and his father emerging from the iconic outfield cornstalks for their own version of a memorable scene from the film, delighting the sellout crowd of 7,823.
“Hey dad, do you wanna have a catch,” Junior said.
“I’d like that,” Senior said.
The Griffeys then played catch as more parents and children joined them on the field with their own balls and gloves, followed by the Cubs and Reds, dressed in special uniforms inspired by how the franchises looked in the early 20th century.
“What they’ve done here is incredible. … I think every baseball player should experience this,” Reds third baseman Kyle Farmer said.
Backed by Chicago’s three-run first, Smyly (5-6) earned his second straight win. The veteran left-hander allowed four hits and walked two.
Rowan Wick worked the ninth for his seventh save.
Cincinnati dropped its fourth straight game. Matt Reynolds hit a two-run double in the seventh, but the last-place Reds went down in order in the final two innings.
Major League Baseball returned to Dyersville – a population of about 4,400 – after its first “Field of Dreams” game was a smashing success. The Chicago White Sox topped the New York Yankees, 9-8, on Tim Anderson’s electric home run last year in the first MLB game in Iowa.
But the sequel lacked the drama of the original version. Chicago and Cincinnati dropped out of contention a long time ago, and the Cubs grabbed control right at the start against Nick Lodolo (3-4).
Suzuki and Happ each hit an RBI double in the first, and Nico Hoerner had a run-scoring single. The rally started after Lodolo retired the first two batters.
Madrigal tacked on an RBI single for a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
David Bell’s grandfather, father and brother played in the majors. Bell spent 12 years in the big leagues himself and worked as a coach and front office executive before taking over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
So yeah, “Field of Dreams,” a movie about family and baseball, hits a little differently for him.
“Baseball’s a big part of our life,” Bell said, “and I thought that the movie did a great job of kind of just telling the story of how important baseball can be to families and just to people in general.”
The game again took place a short walk from the field where Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Amy Madigan filmed the 1989 movie. The game came 2½ months after Liotta, who played the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson, died in May at age 67.
The makeshift ballpark seats only about 8,000 fans, less than the spring training homes for each team. The Cubs have strong ties to the Hawkeye State, going back to the franchise’s time on WGN-TV and continuing to today with its Triple-A club a couple of hours away in Des Moines.
“There’s moments in the season where you get something different that’s exciting, and making sure you appreciate that I think is the main thing for me,” Cubs manager David Ross said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: Contreras appeared to roll his left ankle when he tried to scurry back to second after rounding the bag on Patrick Wisdom’s single in the third. He was tagged out, but he was back behind the plate for the bottom half of the inning.
Reds: Second baseman Jonathan India (leg contusion) was replaced by Reynolds before the start of the fourth. India was hit on his lower left leg by a pitch in the first.
