Cubs And Yankees Square Off At Wrigley For First Time Since 2003
(AP) -- The Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees will play in Wrigley Field for the only the second time since the 1938 Word Series when they start a three-game series on Friday.
New York (39-28) lost two of three to Chicago (28-40) in its last visit June 6-8, 2003. Roger Clemens was denied his 300th win when he was outdueled by Kerry Wood in a 5-2 loss in the middle game.
This series would have showcased Derek Jeter against emerging Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, but the Yankee captain was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained right calf.
"I'm like every other baseball guy," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "I don't want this guy coming here getting his 3,000th hit."
Jeter's former teammate Alfonso Soriano is disappointed that the shortstop won't be making the trip.
"I'm not happy my boy's not playing," Soriano told the Cubs' official website. "I was hoping he could have 2,999 hits and get 3,000 here and I can see it. I wanted to see 3,000 here in Chicago."
The Yankees have enjoyed baseball's most prolific offense over the last seven days, with Jeter missing most of that time. New York has scored 51 runs while batting .336 with 13 HRs and a .570 slugging percentage in its last seven games - a 6-1 stretch at home.
Curtis Granderson is 13 for 29 with three homers, nine RBIs and 11 runs in New York's last seven games and Brett Gardner is 12 for 23 with three RBIs and six runs scored in that span.
Mark Teixeira homered three times and drove in six runs in a three-game sweep of Texas capped by Thursday's 3-2, 12-inning victory. The sweep ended a homestand that began with three losses to Boston that dropped New York into second place in the AL East.
"It's really positive because the homestand started off terrible with the three losses to the Red Sox," manager Joe Girardi said.
A Peoria, Ill. native, Girardi played with the Cubs from 1989-92, and again from 2000-02. He plans to travel to downstate Sunday morning to visit his dad, who has Alzheimer's disease, on Father's Day.
"So it is special, (to) see a lot of family and friends the next few days and try to sneak down and see my father Sunday morning is my plan," Girardi said. "I'm really looking forward to it."
Girardi will start Freddy Garcia (5-5, 3.60 ERA) in the opener. Garcia is 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.
The veteran right-hander's 21 career interleague victories are tied for third-most all-time. He gave up one run over 6 2-3 innings Sunday to earn a 9-1 win over Cleveland.
Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena is 5 for 35 against Garcia, and 13 for 106 (.123) against the Yankees' trio of probable starters for this weekend.
"I think fans will enjoy it because of the magnitude of the matchup," Pena said of facing New York.
Quade will give the ball to Doug Davis (0-5, 5.90). The Cubs have lost each of the left-hander's six starts, though he didn't earn a decision in a 4-3 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday, when he yielded two runs over five innings.
The left-hander is 3-2 with a 6.28 ERA in six starts against the Yankees, but hasn't faced them since 2007.
The Cubs ended a run of losing five straight series by winning three of four from Milwaukee. Kosuke Fukudome had three hits and four RBIs in Thursday's 12-7 victory.
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