CHICAGO — Kyle Schwarber smashed two home runs and the Philadelphia Phillies ripped the Minnesota Twins, 7-1, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) in Major League Baseball’s “Field of Dreams” game.
Schwarber belted a homer in the first inning and another in the fourth, giving him an MLB-best 37 homers for the season to spark Philadelphia’s triumph at Dyersville, Iowa.
An 8,000-seat ballpark was constructed near the cornfield used as a film location for the 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner, prompting MLB to return following games at the cinematic landmark in 2021 and 2022.
The Phillies improved to 65-58 and moved out of a tie with Arizona into the last National League wildcard playoff position with just over six weeks remaining in the campaign.
The Twins fell to 60-63, a game behind Detroit in the fight for the last American League wildcard playoff berth.
Schwarber blasted a homer to open the contest and the Phillies made it 2-0 when Bryce Harper walked, took third on a Luis Arraez single and scored on a Bryson Stott single.
Minnesota’s Luke Keaschall answered with a solo homer in the second inning.
Schwarber, however, smashed a two-run blast in the fourth and the Phillies went ahead 5-1 when Trea Turner doubled and scored on a Harper single.
Brandon Marsh added a two-run homer in the seventh for the Phillies. AFP
