Cubs hand Mets their 10th straight loss, 4-2

Pinch-hitter Carson Kelly connected for a tiebreaking three-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs handed the New York Mets their 10th consecutive loss with a 4-2 victory on Saturday.

Ian Happ also homered for Chicago in its fourth consecutive win. Jameson Taillon (1-1) pitched six crisp innings.

It’s the longest losing streak for New York since it dropped 11 in a row in 2004. They've been outscored 60-18 during the slide.

The game was tied at 1 when Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta (1-2) issued two consecutive walks with two down in the sixth. Peralta then was replaced by left-hander Brooks Raley, and Kelly was sent up to hit for Moisés Ballesteros, a rookie who bats from the left side.

Caleb Thielbar handled the ninth for his first save of the season. Daniel Palencia, Chicago’s usual closer, was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a left oblique strain.

Left-hander David Peterson (0-3, 6.41 ERA) starts the series finale for New York, and right-hander Javier Assad (1-1, 8.10 ERA) pitches for Chicago on Sunday.


(AP Photo Erin Hooley)