DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 13: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins takes the field prior to the MLB Field of Dreams game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins at MLB Field at Field of Dreams on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight, the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies participated in the MLB Field of Dreams Game on the iconic site of the 1989 film. For thoughts on my favorite baseball movie of all time, check out the game thread. Before the umpire decried “play ball!” in Dyersville, IA, Netflix orchestrated a beautiful pregame ceremony featuring Hall of Famers materializing out of the corn much like the Black Sox on celluloid.
After all the pageantry and pomp, it was time to play!
First inning runs-allowed have been a trend for Twins starting pitchers of late, and that didn’t change in the Iowa cornfield. In fact, three pitches in from Taj Bradley and the Phils were up 1-0 as Kyle Schwarber scalded a sphere into the stalks. After a Bryce Harper walk and a Luis Arraez single (of course), Bryson Stott gave the Fightins’ a crooked number with an RBI knock. 2-0 PHI.
Singles from Trevor Larnach & Ryan Jeffers sandwiched around a Byron Buxton pop-out gave the Twins a first inning rally of their own, but a Josh Bell swinging strikeout on 3-2 and a hot shot from Royce Lewis right into the glove of SS Trea Turner cut the rally as short as Moonlight Graham’s career.
In B2, Luke Keaschall got the Twins on the board by beaning a ghost juuuust beyond (357 ft off Aaron Nola) the LCF fence. PHI 2-1.
Alas, Keaschall giveth and Keaschall taketh away. After a Brandon Marsh BB in T4, Schwarber again bombed a ball to RF which bounced on—rather than in—Luke’s glove and over the fence for a two-run jack. Turner would immediately double down the RF line, and just as quickly Harper would single him home. 5-1 PHI.
That would be the end of the line for Bradley. Same old story (same old career, really) for Taj: random bouts of wildness doom him to a bummer of an outing.
The next MN scoring opportunity came in B5, when a Buxton double and walks to Jeffers & Bell loaded the sacks for Lewis. In the most dramatic spot possible for the MN batter who most thrives in those situations—Royce struck out on three pitches. Through five innings, the Twins simply gained no purchase off Nola’s diving-in-the-dirt knuckle curveball (9 K).
More moonshine mashers in T7: after Alec Bohm nearly creamed some corn and ended up with a double, Marsh stalk-ed Travis Adams in the next AB. 7-1 PHI.
Despite clean pen outings from Taylor Rogers & Tommy Nance, the Twins could not muster any further mash. Closing things out for the Phanatics? Jhoan Duran with a clean B9.
Your Final: Philadelphia Phillies 7, Minnesota Twins 1. 76% of the way through their 2026 campaign, the Twins continue to be maddening in their step-forward, step-backward sequencing. Still hanging in the fringes of the AL Central “race” and the muddled AL Wild Card mess, if not doing themselves any favors with an extremely hot-or-cold offense. Zach’s Zealot
The whole Field of Dreams idea: Win or lose, this is a great thing that MLB does combining sporting & cinematic pastimes.
Zach’s Zombie
Putting this game on Netflix: I know, I know…“elder millennial yells at cloud”. But think of the interest this could have drawn if aired on FOX or NBC or what not. At very least, allow it to be simulcast in the Minny & Philly markets on a local station and/or Twins.TV. Forever short-sighted is MLB.
Egg-cellent Elocution
This special event not only brought out the HOF legends pre-game, but also HOF legends like TawnyFroggyin the chat!
Who’s Got Next
The odd Friday off-day mid-series to allow the Twins & Phillies to get back to MN for two more Saturday & Sunday.