CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Friday, snapping a 14-game winning streak and becoming the first club in 23 years to end a 10-game losing streak by cutting another of at least 10 victories of the rival.
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With his sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, rookie Christoper Morel helped the Cubs snap their 10-game losing streak, their longest since 12 losses from Aug. 5-16.
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The Braves’ 14-game winning streak was the longest streak since their post-1900 record of 15 straight wins, set from April 16 to May 2, 2000.
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Morel drove in the only run of the game against reliever AJ Minter after striking out in his first three at-bats. He received a recommendation from Venezuelan catcher Wilson Contreras.
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“He helped me focus on what to do with that complicated southpaw,” Morel said. “Willson talked to me and said, ‘Don’t look low and over the plate, look high.'”
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A pair of double-digit streaks hasn’t ended in the same game since Philadelphia beat Houston on Sept. 15, 1999. On that date, the Phillies snapped their 11-game losing streak and the Brewers saw their 12-win streak snapped.
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Chicago hadn’t led 1-0 since beating Cincinnati on May 28 of last year. The Braves lost 1-0 for the second time this year after losing to Milwaukee on May 16.
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Minter (2-1) walked pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar leading off the eighth inning. Villar advanced to second on Andreton Simmons’ sacrifice fly, stole third on Minter’s wild pitch to the ground off Morel when he was 2-1 up.
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Villar scored on Morel’s 277-foot (84-meter) fly ball to center into the wind.
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The Chicago players wore jerseys and pants in an unusual dark blue color with light blue lettering. Chris Martin (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning for his first win with the Cubs.
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For the Cubs, the Dominicans Christoper Morel 3-0, one produced and Jonathan Villar 0-0, one scored. The Venezuelan Willson Contreras 4-1. Brazilian Yan Gomes 3-0.
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For the Braves, Venezuelans Ronald Acuña Jr. 4-1 and Orlando Arcia 4-1. The Dominican Marcell Ozuna 3-0.
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