Following Thursday's 5-3 win against Tampa Bay, and a win in the overall series, Toronto hoped to continue its hotstreak into the Windy City.
That didn't quite work out.
The Cubs jumped up to a lead early on Friday afternoon, and kept the Blue Jays from rallying back to take the first game of the three-game series 7-4.
Steve Pearce got Toronto started in the ifrst inning, hitting an RBI single to score first baseman Justin Smoak. However Chicago jumped ahead quickly, picking up three runs in the second inning and then two more in the fifth inning off an Anthony Rizzo single to give the Cubs a 5-1 lead.
It looked as though Chicago was going to cruise to the easy win. Finally in the eighth inning, the Blue Jays rallied back to make things interesting. Kevin Pillar hit a double to left field, and then was followed immediately by Ryan Goins' single to score two more. Just like that, the Blue Jays trailed just 5-4.
#BlueJays fans are making noise!@KPILLAR4 doubles home @WayneTwentyOcho. It's 5-2 and we've got 2 on. pic.twitter.com/v3nSynd7xX
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 18, 2017
Don't go anywhere!
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 18, 2017
Mr. RBI drives in 2 more and it's a 1-run game. pic.twitter.com/lOFtejJVkg
Chicago's Javier Baez responded in the bottom of the inning, hitting a deep home run over the left field wall to score two. The Cubs then picked up three quick outs in the ninth inning to give them the three-run win.
Toronto will get another crack at the Cubs on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series. The intra-league series will wrap up on Sunday, before the Blue Jays head to Tampa Bay on Tuesday.