• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Streaking Cubs visit slumping Blue Jays

Jun 13, 2008 - 3:27 PM Chicago Cubs (43-24) at Toronto (34-34), 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The red-hot Chicago Cubs play their first interleague game of the season Friday when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series.

Chicago, which owns the best record in the majors, played the Pittsburgh Pirates three weeks ago during this season's first weekend of interleague play.

The Cubs have reeled off four straight wins and have won 14 of their last 17 contests, including Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Jim Edmonds lofted the game-tying homer in the ninth inning and Reed Johnson was plunked with the bases loaded in the 11th, lifting Chicago to a three-game sweep of Atlanta.

The Cubs on Friday give the ball to Sean Gallagher (3-2, 4.42 ERA), who has allowed three runs or less in four of his past five starts. The righthander worked five innings but suffered the loss seven days ago in a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Toronto counters with righthander A.J. Burnett (5-6, 4.98), who hopes to rebound from his worst start of the season. The hard-throwing Burnett yielded season highs of eight runs and 10 hits Saturday in a 9-5 loss to Baltimore.

The Blue Jays have lost eight of their last 11 contests and are 2-4 on their nine-game homestand. Toronto dropped a 2-1 decision Wednesday to Seattle, which scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning.