The not-so-Friendly Confines
Blue Jays drop first visit to Wrigley Field in 12 years with 7-4 loss
ROB LONGLEY
CHICAGO — It was a spectacular day to be a Blue Jays fan at Wrigley Field on Friday, if for nothing other than the full-on 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 yearold 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 Arrieta 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.
As they climbed out of the cramped visitor’s dugout, several players took long looks at the ivy that clings to the outfield walls and the famed bleachers that are so adored in the area of town now known as Wrigleyville.
For Jays fans, it was a rare opportunity to see their team in such a historic venue and thousands took the opportunity. They’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a win, however, after the Cubs survived the late Jays rally and pulled away with a two-run 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 wildcard spot.
As important as that run was, Toronto manager John Gibbons is well aware that there’s little margin for error to close that gap.
“We need to (keep it up against the Cubs),” Gibbons said prior to his team’s first visit to Chi-town’s north side since 2005. “We’ve been playing good baseball.
“We were hoping like hell we would have got to play (the Cubs) last year (in the World Series.) They’ve gone through their ups and downs and picked it up right after the all star break.
“We can’t afford any more bad stretches, but we’ve been playing good.”
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 increased the lead to four. Though the Cubs weren’t as explosive as they can be, Jays pitchers had allowed three earned runs or less in seven of their previous eight games.
The Jays puled to within two in the eighth win a Kevin Pillar double scored Justin Smoak and then Mr. RISP, Ryan Goins muscled a two-out single to score two more.
Prospects of a comeback were short-lived, however, when Baez hammered a Tim Mayza offering in the bottom of the eighth that just missed leaving the park deep in left field.
WRIGLEY MAGIC
The Jays supporters continued their reputation as one of the best travelling teams in baseball, with thousands soaking up the Wrigley experience on a glorious summer afternoon for baseball.
“Let’s Go Blue Jays” chants started during batting practice and the thousands of fans were certainly a presence at one of the best home-team ball parks in the majors.
But after a Steve Pearce single drove in Justin Smoak to give the Jays a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first, there wasn’t much to get excited about baseball wise until the short-lived rally in the eighth.
In their previous visit here (June 6-8, 2005) the Jays had won two of three and after Friday’s result, still lead the all-time series vs. the Cubs 9-5.
QUICK HITS
Welcome to National League baseball, where no DH can lead to some creative alignments late in games. How about this infield for the Jays in the seventh — Jose Bautista at third, Josh Donaldson at short stop (for just the second time in his career) and Ezequiel Carrera in right … Cubs starter Arrieta has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all seven starts since the all star break … Former Cubs backup catcher Miguel Montero received a round of boos when he went to the plate in the first.