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CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more games while also ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games by beating the Braves 1-0 on Friday to to stop the 14 of the Braves – Gameplay.
Rookie Christoper Morel hit a sacrificial fly in the eighth inning and helped the Cubs stop a 10-game slide, their longest in 12 straight losses from Aug. 5-16.
Atlanta’s 14 straight wins were the most for the Braves since their post-1900 record of 15 from April 16 to May 2, 2000.
Morel drove against reliever AJ Minter in the game’s only heat after slamming in his first three at-bats and then taking some advice from catcher Willson Contreras.
“It helped me focus on what I needed to do, what to focus on with this tough left-hander,” Morel said. “Willson spoke to me and told me, ‘Don’t look for stuff near the plate. Look high.’”
Since Philadelphia beat Houston on September 15, 1999, two double-digit streaks have not ended in the same game, ending the Phillies’ 11-game slip and the Brewers’ 12-game win streak.
Chicago had not won 1-0 against Cincinnati since May 28 last year. The Braves lost for the second time this year, 1-0, after losing in Milwaukee on May 16.
Minter (2-1) led pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar from eighth place. He advanced after Andrelton Simmons sacrifice, stole third without a throw on Minter’s 2-1 pitch in the dirt against Morel and hit center on Morel’s 277-foot fly while a steady wind blew at Wrigley Field .
Villar slid headfirst home when Michael Harris II’s throw was slightly over the first baseline.
With Chicago wearing unusual dark blue jerseys and shorts with light blue letters, Chris Martin (1-0) scored a perfect eighth for his first win with the Cubs.
Atlanta loaded the bases against David Robertson in the ninth with two walks and a hit before Orlando Arcia fell to the floor. Robertson made his eighth save in 10 chances, completing a two-hitter in a day when both teams combined just five hits.
It was Atlanta’s first loss since May 31 in Arizona.
“The first loss in June is good if you’re mid-month,” said Matt Olson, who hit one of the fourth-deep flies that may have been caught by the wind.
“Our game is to get the ball in the air and we kind of got hit back here today,” said Atlanta manager Brian Snitker.
Keegan Thompson, who had bad games with Baltimore and the New York Yankees, hit a career-high nine while conceding two hits and two walks in more than six scoreless innings — his longest game in the big league.
“I think we made a conscious effort to throw more fastballs today,” Thompson said. “I haven’t had a lot of damage from fastball so far this year and I’d sort of gotten away from four-seam fastball the last two games.”
Mychal Givens defeated Arcia with two ons to end the seventh.
Charlie Morton batted nine, walked none and allowed three hits.
Contreras narrowly missed a homer on a drive off the left center wall with two in the sixth. Left fielder Adam Duvall played the ball perfectly and saved it to a single.
BLOOP, THERE IT IS
Arcia got an odd double in the fifth when his flat pop fell straight down the line in right field. Jason Heyward, a five-time Gold Glove winner, slipped and fell on his butt about 10 feet from the ball.
TRAINING ROOM
Braves: RHP Collin McHugh, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on June 7, rejoined the team.
Cubs: 1B Frank Schwindel went in the second with a lower back strain that flared as he ran to the first on a groundout. Vertigo, which slowed down to about three quarters of the line, was replaced by PJHiggins. … OF Seiya Suzuki (left ring finger sprain) is slowly making progress and has started swinging a racquet but has not been pointed out, manager David Ross said. … RHP Marcus Stroman (right shoulder infection) has resumed light throwing.
NEXT
Braves RHP Kyle Wright (7-3, 2.57) meets Cubs LHP Justin Steele (1-5, 4.33) on Saturday.
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