Braves’ winning streak ends at 14 versus Cubs

CHICAGO — The Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more game while ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games when they beat the Braves 1-0 Friday, halting Atlanta’s 14-game run.

Rookie Christoper Morel hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to help the Cubs stop a 10-game slide, their longest since 12 straight losses from last Aug. 5-16.

The Braves’ 14 consecutive wins were their most since their post1900 record of 15 from April 16-May 2, 2000.

The loss was Atlanta’s first since May 31 at Arizona.

“The first loss in June is good when you’re in the middle of the month,” said Matt Olson, who struck one of fourth deep flies that may have been held by wind.

“Our game is to get the ball in the air and we kind of got beat back here today,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

Morel drove in the game’s only run off reliever A.J. Minter after striking out in his first three at-bats, then getting some advice from catcher Willson Contreras.

“It helped me concentrate on what I needed to do, what to focus on with that tough lefty,” Morel said. “Willson talked to me and told me, ‘Don’t look for stuff low around the plate. Look high.’ ”

A pair of double-digit streaks had not ended in the same game since Philadelphia beat Houston on Sept. 15, 1999, ending the Phillies’ skid at 11 and the Astros’ winning streak at 12.

The Cubs had not won 1-0 since May 28 last year against Cincinnati. The Braves lost 1-0 for the second time this year following a defeat at Milwaukee on May 16.

Minter (2-1) walked pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar leading off the eighth. He advanced on Andrelton Simmons’ sacrifice, stole third without a throw on Minter’s 2-1 pitch in the dirt to Morel and scored on Morel’s 277-foot fly to center with a steady wind blowing in at Wrigley Field.

Villar slid home headfirst as Michael Harris II’s throw was slightly up the first-base line.