Streaks collide as Braves are edged by lowly Cubs

The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more games while ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games, beating the Braves 1-0 on Friday to halt the visiting Braves’ 14-game run.

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

Atlanta’s 14 consecutive wins were the most for the Braves since their post-1900 record of 15 from April 16 to May 2, 2000.

Morel drove in the game’s only run against 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 Brewers’ winning streak at 12.

Chicago 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 pinchhitter 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.

Atlanta loaded the bases against David Robertson in the ninth on two walks and a hit batter before Orlando Arcia grounded out. Robertson got his eighth save in 10 chances, completing a two-hitter on a day both teams combined for just five hits.

It was Atlanta’s first defeat 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.

Phillies sweep Nationals: Bryce Harper had three hits against his old team, and visiting Philadelphia beat Washington 5-3 in a doubleheader opener for their 13th win in 15 games. In the nightcap, Harper’s pinch-hit double in the eighth scored two runs to tie it 5-5 before JT Realmuto singled in two runs in the 10th as the Phillies won 8-7. With the sweep, Philadelphia improved to 13-2 under interim manager Rob Thomson.

Yankees 12, Blue Jays 3: In Toronto, New York got a grand slam from Anthony Rizzo as well as home runs from Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Joey Gallo among 14 hits in a rout.

Red Sox 6, Cardinals 5: Michael Wacha pitched neatly into the sixth inning against his former team and host Boston shut down St. Louis’ rally in the ninth, holding off the Cardinals. The NL Central-leading Cardinals trailed 6-1 going into the ninth and reliever Austin Davis retired the first two batters. St. Louis then scored four runs before Paul Goldschmidt was called out on strikes with the tying run on second base, giving Tanner Houck his third save.

Mets 10, Marlins 4: Pete Alonso hit a grand slam and Francisco Lindor had a three-run home run as host New York romped. Mets starter Carlos Carrasco (8-2) struck out seven in 61⁄3 innings. Miami’s Pablo Lopez (4-3), who entered with a 2.30 ERA, gave up six earned runs in 51⁄3 innings.

Brewers 5, Reds 4: Keston Hiura hit a tie-breaking home run off Ross Detwiler in the seventh inning, and visiting Milwaukee beat Cincinnati in a battle of long balls for their third win 13 games. Hunter Renfroe’s three-run homer in the fourth and Willy Adames’ solo shot in the fifth built a 4-0 lead against Hunter Greene on a night every run scored on a homer. Albert Almora Jr. hit a tworun homer in the fifth, and Brandon Drury and Tommy Pham followed with solo drives in the sixth on Eric Lauer’s first two pitches of the inning to tie the score 4-4.

Orioles 1, Rays 0: Dean Kremer pitched six scoreless innings and rookie Adley Rutschman singled home the game’s only run in the seventh as host Baltimore handed Tampa Bay its fourth straight loss. It was just the fourth RBI in 23 games for the touted catching prospect.

Rangers 7, Tigers 0: Former A’s catcher Jonah Heim doubled, homered and drove in three runs and visiting Texas extended Detroit’s losing streak to six games. Jon Gray (2-3) pitched seven scoreless innings to end a five-start winless streak.