CHICAGO — Matt Szczur hit his first career grand slam during a five-run eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs broke away from the Atlanta Braves 6-1 Friday.
Jon Lester struck out 10 over seven innings as the Cubs improved to 17-5, their top 22-game start since the 1907 team was 18-4.
In a matchup of the clubs with the best and worst records in the majors, the Braves fell to 5-18.
It was 1-1 in the eighth when the Cubs loaded the bases on two hits and a walk against Jim Johnson (0-3). Lefty Eric O’Flaherty relieved and gave up Anthony Rizzo’s go-ahead single with one out.
Szczur then followed by launching a pitch from Chris Withrow over the left field wall.
Freddie Freeman’s solo shot in the fourth was only the Braves’ fifth home run of the season.
METS 13, GIANTS 1: Yoenis Cespedes and the host New York Mets broke loose for a team-record 12 runs in the third, rolling to their seventh straight victory.
Cespedes, back in the lineup after missing five games with a bruised thigh, set a club mark with six RBI in the inning, connecting for a two-run single off starter Jake Peavy (1-2) and a grand slam off reliever Mike Broadway that capped the outburst.
MARLINS 6, BREWERS 3: Marlins lefty Adam Conley threw no-hit ball for 72/3 innings before being pulled by Manager Don Mattingly after 116 pitches, and Miami’s bullpen wound up holding on at Milwaukee.
Jonathan Lucroy blooped a single with one out in the ninth off reliever Jose Urena to break up the combo no-hit bid.
NATIONALS 5, CARDINALS 4: Stephen Strasburg struck out nine, including seven of eight in one stretch, and Washington got home runs from Michael Taylor and Danny Espinosa at St. Louis.
Taylor’s second leadoff homer of the year ended a 22-inning scoreless drought for the Nationals.
PIRATES 4, REDS 1: Juan Nicasio struck out eight in seven scoreless innings, Josh Harrison hit his first home run in nearly a year and Matt Joyce connected as a pinch hitter to lead host Pittsburgh to its fifth straight win.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
ORIOLES 6, WHITE SOX 3: Nolan Reimold hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh, lifting Baltimore to a win at home.
The White Sox entered this series on a six-game winning streak but have lost back-to-back games to the Orioles, whose 9-1 mark at Camden Yards is the best home mark in the major leagues.
BLUE JAYS 6, RAYS 1: Michael Saunders hit two home runs and Aaron Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings for Toronto at St. Petersburg, Florida.
TIGERS 9, TWINS 2: Michael Fulmer allowed two earned runs in five innings to win his major league debut for the Tigers at Minneapolis.
RANGERS 4, ANGELS 2: Ian Desmond continued his batting surge with two hits, including the go-ahead double in a three-run sixth inning, and Texas beat visiting Los Angeles.
INTERLEAGUE
PHILLIES 4, INDIANS 3: Ryan Howard led off the 11th inning with a home run, lifting Philadelphia to a win at home.
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