DYERSVILLE, Iowa — This is how you end a “dream” game.
With a dream home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After a nightmare top of the ninth.
“It was a dream come true,” said bench coach Miguel Cairo, who filled in for manager Tony La Russa, who was attending the funeral of his brother in law.
Closer Liam Hendriks was roughed up for four runs in the ninth, two on Aaron Judge’s homer and the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton’s blast.
There were eight homers in the game, four by each side. Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez and Seby Zavala preceded Anderson’s two-run shot with Zavala (walk) on base against lefty Zach Britton.
“He’s amazing,” Cairo said of Anderson. “The energy. He’s a leader. He’s the man.”
Fireworks went off as Anderson circled the bases before being mobbed by teammates at home plate.
“Big games like this, this is the time to show up,” said Anderson, who also doubled in a run in the third inning. “Being able to walk this one off was one of the best moments of my career.”
With baseballs flying out to all fields at the cozy Field ballpark — 335 feet to the foul poles, 380 to the power alleys and 400 to center with a high well — the Sox used the long ball to build a 7-3 lead. The Yankees used it, too, though, getting Hendriks for the closer’s ninth and 10th homers allowed this season.
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Members of the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees take the field prior to a game at the Field of Dreams on August 12, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa.
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White Sox third baseman Jake Lamb walks through a cornfield before a the “Field of Dreams” game.
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Actor Kevin Costner walks onto the field prior to a game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees.
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A general view of the Field of Dreams during the first inning between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees on August 12, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa.
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A-10 aircraft conduct a flyover before a baseball game
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A hot air balloon is seen during the third inning.
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Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton walks on the field with earns of corn in his back pockets before the game.
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Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge watches a home run from the Sox’ Seby Zavala fly into the outfield corn in the fourth inning.
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Aaron Judge anticipates a pitch during the fourth inning against the White Sox.
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White Sox bullpen pitcher watches from the outfield corn during a baseball game against the Yankees in Dyersville, Iowa.
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Sox right fielder Adam Engel anticipates a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees.
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Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton walks to the dugout during the sixth inning against the White Sox as the sun sets at the Field of Dreams game.
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“We’re not going to quit until it’s over,” Sox starter Lance Lynn said.
Lynn allowed four runs in five-plus innings. Michael Kopech got out of a jam left by Lynn in the sixth, and Aaron Bummer pitched out of Kopech’s jam in the seventh. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless eighth and Hendriks got the ninth.
La Russa was attending the funeral of his brother-in-law in Tampa, Fla., and planned to watch the game on TV. He will have liked what he saw.
“I’ve got his back,” Cairo said. “He preaches family, and right now he’s with his family. His second family is here and now we have to do it for him.”
Pitching through pain
Sox starters got extra rest shortly after the All-Star break and there’s probably more of that to come. “Dead arm” issues are part of the rigors of pitching through 30 starts.
“Everybody is different when it is, too,” Lynn said. “Guys have different spots and different times of the year when they feel things. I would say the older you get the more you get used to it so you have less of them than the young guys.”
Lynn (11-3), who allowed four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in five-plus innings, said he feels good “maybe five starts out of 30.”
“You’re never pain free,” he said. “You throw a baseball for a living. It’s one of those things you get used to, and some days are worse than others.”
Carlos Rodon went on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with shoulder fatigue, but in his case it’s more than a “dead arm” and a shutdown was needed.
This and that
Adam Engel left the game with right groin tightness. He is day to day.
*With his 221st homer, Abreu tied Harold Baines for third all-time on the Sox list.
*Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed there will be a second Field of Dreams game next year but didn’t indicate which teams would play when asked about Cubs manager David Ross insinuated the Cubs would be in it.
