MLB Field of Dreams Game final score, results: Cubs' pitching stymies Reds' bats

Edward Sutelan

MLB Field of Dreams Game final score, results: Cubs' pitching stymies Reds' bats image

The White Sox and Yankees displayed offensive firepower in the inaugural Field of Dreams Game last year. The Cubs and Reds showed this year what a quiet pitching duel would look like.

The Cubs scored three runs in the top of the first inning but added just one more run the rest of the game. The Reds were held off the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when Matt Reynolds drove in a pair of runs with a double.

Then Chicago's bullpen kept Cincinnati's bats quiet the rest of the evening in Dyersville, Iowa. The city of Chicago made it back-to-back wins in the Field of Dreams Game with the 4-2 Cubs victory.

The stadium would be the smallest of all current MLB stadiums, which contributed to eight home runs being hit in the 2021 edition. On Thursday, no one even reached the warning track on the fly.

But that didn't stop the Cubs from getting off to a fast start. With two outs in the first, Seiya Suzuki doubled to score Patrick Wisdom. Nico Hoerner followed with a single that scored Suzuki and an RBI double by Ian Happ that scored Hoerner. Chicago had put up three quick runs on Reds starter Nick Lodolo.

MORE: Twitter roasts Fox's Harry Caray hologram on Field of Dreams Game telecast

Cubs starter Drew Smyly struck out nine over five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks. The Reds had runners on first and second base in the first, second and third innings but failed to drive any of those runners home.

The Cubs scratched out their final run in the fourth. Nick Madrigal singled to drive in Nelson Velazquez to expand the lead to 4-0. Reynolds' double in the seventh cut the lead in half but the Reds were held in check the rest of the night.

There was more than just the baseball to entertain the fans watching the game on TV. Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Cubs left fielder Ian Happ were mic'd up to talk baseball and more, and Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Fergie Jenkins joined Fox broadcasters Joe Davis and John Smoltz in the booth.

MORE: Watch MLB games live with fuboTV (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights from Thursday's matchup between the Cubs and Reds. Read further for the in-game updates.

Cubs vs. Reds score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
Cubs 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
Reds 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2

MLB Field of Dreams Game updates, highlights from Cubs vs. Reds

(All times Eastern)

10:44 p.m.: FINAL: Wick gets Reynolds swinging, and that will end the second Field of Dreams game. Cubs win 4-2.

10:41 p.m.: Fraley bounces a grounder back to Wick. Two away in the ninth.

10:38 p.m.: Barrero chases down and away for the first out of the bottom of the ninth.

10:35 p.m.: Rowan Wick is in the game for the Cubs to try and close out the game.

10:32 p.m. End top ninth: Hoerner swings and misses at strike three as Strickland strands a pair.

10:30 p.m.: Suzuki strikes out on a foul tip for the second out in the frame.

10:28 p.m.: Wisdom lays off a pitch down and away for ball four.

10:25 p.m.: Madrigal has his second stolen base of the game as he swipes second base.

10:24 p.m.: Sliding grab in center by Almora sets down Contreras for the first out.

10:22 p.m.: Hunter Strickland is the new pitcher in the game for the Reds, and he's immediately welcomed by a base hit to left by Madrigal.

10:19 p.m. End of eighth: The first base umpire says Aquino went around for a swinging strike three to end the inning.

10:18 p.m.: Almora hits a hard grounder to third, but Wisdom fields it cleanly and throws him out for the second out.

10:17 p.m.: Hughes catches Solano looking at strike three for the first out in the bottom of the eighth.

10:13 p.m. End top eighth: Pinch hitter Rafael Ortega chases a slider below the zone to end the inning.

10:10 p.m.: Make it back-to-back strikeouts by Diaz as Higgins is also caught looking at a backdoor slider.

10:09 p.m.: Velazquez is called out looking at strike three for the first out.

10:07 p.m.: A pickoff attempt by Diaz goes past Votto, and Happ advances to second.

10:04 p.m.: Alexis Diaz comes in to pitch for the Reds. Happ leads off the eighth inning with a base hit to center.

9:59 p.m. End of seventh: Votto is caught looking at strike three to end the seventh.

9:54 p.m.: The first hitter Brandon Hughes faces out of the bullpen, Senzel hits a rocket to third that Wisdom can't catch, but he's able to make the throw to first to retire Senzel.

9:53 p.m. Reds scoring play: The Reds finally capitalize with runners on. Reynolds doubles to right to score both Barrero and Fraley. That will end the day for Rucker. Cubs still lead 4-2.

9:50 p.m.: Jake Fraley, who came in to pinch hit for Romine, walks to give the Reds a runner on first and second.

9:46 p.m.: Barrero ropes a doubles down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the seventh.

9:43 p.m.: A hologram version of Harry Carey signing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" from the press box in Iowa during the seventh inning stretch.

9:42 p.m. End top seventh: Hoerner grounds out to third for the third out.

9:41 p.m.: Broken-bat grounder to shortstop by Suzuki is fielded by Barrero for the second out.

9:40 p.m.: Wisdom grounds out to third for the first out of the inning.

9:39 p.m.: Joel Kuhnel is the new pitcher on the hill for Cincinnati.

9:36 p.m. End of sixth: Aquino flies out to center to end the sixth.

9:35 p.m.: Almora bounces into a 4-6-3 double play. Aquino up to bat with two away in the bottom of the sixth.

9:34 p.m.: Solano picks up his second hit of the night, lining a single into right-center.

9:32 p.m.: Michael Rucker is the new pitcher in the game for Chicago.

9:29 p.m. End top sixth: Contreras bounces one to Barrero at short, and he's thrown out to end the top half of the inning.

9:27 p.m.: Madrigal swipes second.

9:25 p.m.: Madrigal singles on the first pitch he sees to give Contreras a chance to bat with a runner on in the sixth and two away.

9:24 p.m.: Morel chases a low breaking ball for the second out.

9:21 p.m.: Higgins flies out on the first pitch he sees to lead off the sixth inning.

9:18 p.m. End of fifth: Votto flies out to center to end the fifth.

9:16 p.m.: Farmer bounces out to third, and can't advance Reynolds on the groundout. Votto up with two away.

9:13 p.m.: Senzel strikes out, but Contreras drops the strike, and Reynolds is able to move up to second. One out with a runner in scoring position for Kyle Farmer.

9:12 p.m.: Reynolds' grounder just gets past the glove of Madrigal in the gap of the right side of the infield for a leadoff single.

9:07 p.m. End top fifth: Buck Farmer's pitch is grounded to Kyle Farmer, who fields it for the final out of the frame.

9:03 p.m.: Back-foot breaking ball gets Happ swinging for the second out. It is the final batter of the night for Lodolo. Buck Farmer will come in to pitch for Cincinnati.

9:00 p.m.: Hoerner walks on four pitches.

8:58 p.m.: Breaking pitch can't find the outside edge, and Suzuki takes a walk.

8:56 p.m.: Wisdom is called out looking at strike three for the first out.

8:51 p.m. End of fourth: Romine grounds out to first to end the inning.

8:50 p.m.: Back-to-back swinging strikeouts for Smyly as Barrero is set down on strikes.

8:49 p.m.: Aquino can't hold up in time, and he's set down on strikes.

8:44 p.m. End top fourth: Contreras flies out to right, and on the play, Higgins is thrown out by Aquino trying to tag up and advance to third.

8:42 p.m. Cubs scoring play: Madrigal dumps a single just in front of Senzel in center field. Velazquez scores from third, and the Cubs now have runners on first and second. Cubs extend lead to 4-0.

8:40 p.m.: Morel pops up to third. Farmer makes the catch and tries to catch Velazquez off the bag, but the Cubs' designated hitter is able to make it back to the bag in time.

8:39 p.m.: The hit-and-run works to perfection. Velazquez takes off for second, and Higgins singles through the right side to give the Cubs runners on first and second.

8:36 p.m.: Velazquez leads off the fourth with a base hit up the middle.

8:35 p.m.: India has left the game. Matt Reynolds is now at second base for the Reds. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year was hit by a pitch on his leg to start the bottom of the first.

8:32 p.m. End of third: For the third straight inning, the Reds strand two as Almora strikes out to leave Votto and Almora on base.

8:31 p.m.: Solano drops in a base hit to left. This is now the third straight inning in which they have had two runners on base.

8:30 p.m.: Votto lays off a pitch on the outside to walk. Solano up to bat with a runner on first and two away.

8:27 p.m.: Farmer goes fishing for the second out of the inning.

8:26 p.m.: First pitch of the inning Senzel bounces to Madrigal behind second base, and he's thrown out to start the farme.

8:25 p.m.: Willson Contreras is back in the game behind the dish. He had only walked off the field because he was tagged out.

8:22 p.m. End top third: Happ swings and misses to end the top half of the third.

8:19 p.m.: Hoerner lifts a flyout to left for the second out of the inning.

8:19 p.m.: Suzuki walks to put runners on first and second for the Cubs with one away.

8:16 p.m.: Wisdom swipes second base without a throw. Romine dropped the ball trying to transfer, but Wisdom stays put at second.

8:15 p.m.: Contreras exits the game. On a replay, it appeared like he rolled his ankle

8:13 p.m.: Wisdom singles to left. Contreras rounds second and starts trying to advance to third and hurts himself rounding the bases. He is tagged out after he fell to the ground. He's trying to walk it off with trainers are out there evaluating him.

8:12 p.m.: Contreras walks to lead off the third inning.

8:07 p.m. End of second: India chases strike three to end the inning. Reds put on two straight base runners before Smyly strikes out the side.

8:05 p.m.: Austin Romine is caught looking at a breaking ball for the third strike. Two away in the bottom of the second.

8:03 p.m.: Barrero chases a breaking ball down and outside for the first out.

8:01 p.m.: Aristides Aquino bloops in a single to right field, and the Reds have baserunners on first and second with no one out to start the bottom half of the second.

7:59 p.m.: First-base umpire Adrian Johnson says that Albert Almora did not go around, and he takes the walk on the full-count breaking ball to give the Reds a second straight leadoff baserunner.

7:54 p.m. End top second: Lodolo fans the side as Madrigal is also caught looking to end the frame.

7:51 p.m.: Christopher Morel is also caught looking at a fastball in the low-inside corner.

7:49 p.m.: P.J. Higgins is caught looking at a fastball in the low-inside corner of the strike zone by Lodolo for the first out of the inning.

7:44 p.m. End of first: Donovan Solano flies out to shallow center to retire the side and strand a pair of runners on first and second.

7:42 p.m.: Votto lifts a deep fly ball to left, but it's caught by Happ for the second out.

7:41 p.m.: Kyle Farmer drops a base hit into right field to put base runners on first and second for Votto.

7:38 p.m.: Nick Senzel swings and misses at a breaking ball for the first out of the inning.

7:36 p.m.: Jonathan India is hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half of the first to give the Reds a baserunner.

7:32 p.m. End top first: Nelson Velazquez grounds out to shortstop to end the top half of the first.

7:31 p.m. Cubs scoring play: Make it four straight hits for the Cubs. Ian Happ doubles to center to drive in Hoerner. Cubs extend lead to 3-0.

7:30 p.m. Cubs scoring play: Nico Hoerner dumps a base hit into left to score Suzuki. Cubs extend lead to 2-0.

7:28 p.m. Cubs scoring play: Patrick Wisdom is hit by a pitch, and Seiya Suzuki follows that up with an RBI double into the left-center gap. Cubs take a 1-0 lead.

7:25 p.m.: Willson Contreras hits a slow dribbler back to the mound, and Lodolo fields it and throws it to first for the second out.

7:23 p.m.: Madgrial bounces a grounder out to Jose Barrero at shortstop, and is thrown out to get the game started.

7:23 p.m.: The first pitch of the game to Nick Madrigal is low and outside, and this game is underway.

7:08 p.m.: Legends of the game are walking out onto the corn field to join the Reds and Cubs ahead of tonight's contest.

7 p.m.: Here's a look at tonight's starting lineups:

6:52 p.m.: Prior to the game, Joey Votto talked about what playing in the game means to him, and the connection with his late father.

How to watch MLB Field of Dreams Game

  • Start time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: Bally Sports | MLB.tv | fuboTV

Fox will have the national broadcast of Thursday's game. Joe Davis will call play-by-play with John Smoltz providing analysis. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will be the reporters from the dugouts.

There are plenty of options to stream the game, including watching it on the Bally Sports app, MLB.tv or fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.