For the first time since the 1918 World Series, the Chicago Cubs will visit Fenway Park, kicking off a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET as Major League Baseball ushers in another edition of interleague play.
It has been nearly a century since the Cubs organization paid a visit to the historic grounds of Fenway Park. The last time they did, with World War I raging in the background, the Red Sox defeated the Cubs in six games to win the World Series, their fifth since 1903. Ruth was the winning pitcher for Boston in two of those games, while Chicago's top hurler, Hippo Vaughn, was 1-2 despite a 1.00 earned run average.
The Cubs and Red Sox last met in 2005, again as part of interleague play, when Boston visited Wrigley Field (the Cubs won two of three).
In more recent news, the Red Sox are coming into the weekend riding a six-game win streak, their longest of the still relatively young season. A three-game sweep of the Yankees, a win against the Orioles and a two-game mini-sweep of the Tigers has Boston at 23-20, and third place in the American League East.
The Cubs (19-23) have won just four of their past 10 games.
Friday, May 20, 7:10 p.m. (NESN, WGN)
Doug Davis (0-1, 1.80) vs Jon Lester (5-1, 3.28)
Saturday, May 21, 7:10 p.m. (FOX)
Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 4.89) vs. Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 2.60)
Sunday, May 22, 8:05 p.m. (ESPN)
Matt Garza (2-4, 3.72) vs. Tim Wakefield (0-1, 5.40)