Cubs spoil Jays’ visit to baseball shrine

Wrigley trip was first in a dozen years

CHICAGO • It was a spectacular day to be a Blue Jays fan at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Friday, if for no other reason than the enormity of the experience.

The sun was shining, the team arrived in good form and for the first time in a dozen years, the Jays were making a visit to the 103-year-old baseball shrine.

And after a handful of middle innings when it looked like the highlight would be watching practice manoeuvres for this weekend’s renowned Chicago Air and Water Show, the Jays made things rather interesting.

A three-inning seventh inning wasn’t enough, however, as the Cubs rode an early 5-1 lead and a strong outing from starter Jake Arieta to a 7-4 win.

Making their first visit to the treasure on Chicago’s north side since 2005, the Jays faced the reigning World Series champs and a new big-league experience for many in the roster.

For Jays fans it was a rare opportunity to see their team in such an historic venue and thousands took the opportunity. They will have to wait tomorrow for a win, however, after the Cubs survived the late Jays rally and pulled away with a tworun Javier Baez homer in the eighth.

The Cubs chipped away at Jays starter J.A. Happ — and took advantage of some sloppy defensive play by the visitors — to cruise to a relatively easy victory.

By the time Happ’s work day was done after five innings, he had given up nine hits and five runs and the NL Central Division leaders were well on their way.

The loss came after the Jays had won five of their past six and seven of their past 11 to creep to within three games of the AL wild card spot.

The trip here was never going to be easier and there will be no break on Saturday when Toronto right hander Nick Tepesch gets another spot start facing the Cubs Jose Quintana.

But with three consecutive series wins, the Jays are in reasonable form overall.

On Friday, however, they let some little things get in their way.

For example, the Cubs got on the board in the second when Happ didn’t cover first on a weak grounder from Jason Heyward, allowing the first run to cross.

The next batter, Javier Baez, plunked a bloop single in front of Jose Bautista in right field to give the Cubs the 2-1 lead. Another bloop single — this one from Alberto Almora Jr. — scored another run and the Jays were down two heading to the third inning.

The Cubs added two more in the fifth when an Anthony Rizzo single drove in a pair to increase the lead to four.