Moises Ballesteros hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning for the host Chicago Cubs, who continued surging Friday afternoon with a 12-4 win over the free-falling New York Mets.
The Cubs have scored at least 10 runs in each of their last three games, all victories — the longest streak for the club since Sept. 13-15, 2019.
The Mets have lost nine straight, a span in which they’ve been outscored 56-16. The losing streak is the longest for New York since an 11-game skid from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, 2004.
Seiya Suzuki laced an RBI single off Kodai Senga (0-3) one pitch before Ballesteros homered to left. The Mets responded with a three-run second against Edward Cabrera (2-0), who gave up an RBI double to Marcus Semien and a two-run single to Tyrone Taylor, who was thrown out trying to extend the hit into a double.
Nico Hoerner answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.
Ian Happ scored on an error by first baseman Brett Baty in the fourth and the Cubs scored three runs in the seventh, when Matt Shaw had an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch before Dansby Swanson lofted a sacrifice fly to make it 10-3.
Happ added a two-run shot in the eighth, his fifth home run of the year.
Hoerner went 3-for-5 as he raised his average to .342. Suzuki, Ballesteros and Michael Busch had two hits apiece.
Cabrera gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.
Francisco Alvarez had an RBI single in the eighth for the Mets and finished with two hits. Semien, Taylor, Francisco Lindor and MJ Melendez also had two hits.
Senga allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 3 1/3 innings. He has surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) in his last two starts, easily his most over a two-start span in his four-year career.
