Chicago @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 4, NY Mets 5

THE STORY: Neither team could hold a lead Friday night. Fortunately for the New York Mets, they had last at-bats in their 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Justin Turner's two-out single in the ninth inning gave New York its 11th win in 16 games. The teams continue their three-game series Saturday in New York. The Cubs took a 3-0 lead Friday, but the Mets tied the game in the fourth and went ahead the following inning. Darwin Barney's two-out single tied the game in the ninth, but Turner's hit sent Chicago to its 12th loss in 18 games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Randy Wells (7-4, 4.86 ERA) vs. Mets LH Chris Capuano (10-12, 4.63).

Wells is on a career-high five-game winning streak. He hasn't lost since July 28 against Milwaukee, a span of seven starts. Wells won all four decisions in August and is 5-0 in his past six starts. He has also won his last three starts, allowing two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings. Wells lost his only career decision against the Mets, which came in New York last season. Capuano had his shortest start of the season in his last outing against Florida. He lasted four innings and gave up six runs. The lefthander is 8-3 in 13 career appearances against the Cubs. Capuano would be wise to pitch around Aramis Ramirez, who is batting .324 (11-for-34) with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs lifetime against the lefthander.

ABOUT THE CUBS (62-82): Starlin Castro extended his hitting streak to 11 games Friday, but he played in pain for the final three innings. Castro was struck in the midsection by a Mike Pelfrey pitch in the seventh. He appeared to have the wind knocked out of him and was on the ground for several seconds before going to first. Castro stayed in the game and kept the ninth inning rally alive with a bloop hit with two outs, which set up Barney's tying single. Castro leads the National League with 184 hits.

ABOUT THE METS (71-73): After saying Bobby Parnell would receive the majority of the save opportunities, manager Terry Collins changed his mind and went with Manny Acosta in the ninth inning Friday. That strategy didn't work when Acosta gave up Barney's hit. Acosta, who had saved a game against the Marlins on Wednesday, backed into the win thanks to Turner's single. Collins used Parnell to record the final out of the eighth.

FINAL PITCH: Johan Santana, who is attempting a comeback from surgery on his left shoulder a year ago, allowed one unearned run in three innings for Class A Savannah in a South Atlantic League playoff game Friday. He threw 39 pitches. It's unclear if Santana will pitch for the Mets this season.