Blue Jays Edge Cubs 3-2

Coming off two losses in three games to the worst team in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays got back on track Friday against the best club in the majors.

Matt Stairs of Fredericton and Scott Rolen provided the offence with back-to-back homers in the third inning while A.J. Burnett and the bullpen made it stand up for a 3-2 interleague win over the Chicago Cubs.

“We needed that one in a lot of ways,” said manager John Gibbons. “It was a good bounce back.”

Things were tense wire-to-wire for the Blue Jays (35-34), who won for just the fourth time in 12 games to again avoid falling below the break-even mark. Stopping a four-game win streak for the Cubs (43-25) also helped them wash away the sour taste they had during Thursday’s off-day after losing a series at home to the dreadful Seattle Mariners.

A charged-up crowd of 27,803 was on hand to watch the clash with one of the game’s most storied clubs, with a vocal contingent of Cubs fans making their presence felt.

So there was no shortage of energy in the place as Burnett (6-6) took the mound for the first time since his sarcastic tip of the cap to fans last Saturday. He was hammered for eight earned runs over 4 1-3 innings against Baltimore in that one and made the gesture as he was booed off the field.

The customers were much happier with his work this time out, although a 33-pitch first inning prevented him lasting longer than five innings and two batters. He gave up just two runs, and left with a 3-1 lead to loud cheers.

“I was thinking (get through) three, I know I had 70 or something,” Burnett said of his first inning. “I came out feeling good and after that I tried to tone it down and pitch a little bit. It seemed like every time I tried to hump up and let one go, it got out of the zone. So I started to mix some curveballs and change-ups in fastball counts.”

As Burnett walked solemnly into the dugout, Brian Wolfe came on to quite a challenge, as two were on with none out. He quickly surrendered a single to Jim Edmonds, but caught a break when the ball hit second base umpire Jeff Nelson en route to centre field. That sent Fukudome, who had come around to score, back to third.

“It was a big break for us,” said Wolfe. “That definitely would have scored a run and it could have changed (the inning).”

Wolfe then struck out Mark DeRosa, and after Eric Patterson’s single made it a 3-2 game, he got Ryan Theriot to hit into an inning-ending double play.

“The key was he got that double-play,” said Gibbons. “At that point there was a chance it could have exploded on us.”

Shawn Camp, Jesse Carlson, Scott Downs and B.J. Ryan, taking care of business in the ninth for his 14th save, closed things out. Ryan, who took the loss Thursday against Seattle, picked up his second save in four June chances.

“He’s been scuffling a bit,” Gibbons said of Ryan, who declined to speak with reporters. “Guys are tired out there, too, don’t forget that.”

The Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead in this one with their first multihomer inning of the season. Alex Rios opened the inning with a double off Sean Gallagher (3-3) and Stairs followed by driving his eighth of the season to right. Rolen then followed with his third of the season.

The Cubs responded in the fourth Fukudome singled with one out and came around an out later on Edmonds’ RBI double.

The Cubs could have done some damage in the first, when they loaded the bases with two out, but Geovany Soto flew out to end it. Theriot also hurt matters when he was thrown out at third base when Burnett snared Derrek Lee’s chopper for the second out of the inning.

“Big play,” said Burnett. “A couple of plays helped us out. We took advantage of them and the relievers picked me up today.”