Cubs beat the Rangers 7-1 for their second 10-game winning streak this season

Texas Rangers second baseman Ezequiel Duran scores on a single by teammate Ian Happ during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers second baseman Ezequiel Duran scores on a single by teammate Ian Happ during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Carson Kelly (15) near home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Carson Kelly (15) near home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter runs the bases while scoring from second base on a pinch hit by teammate Justin Foscue during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter runs the bases while scoring from second base on a pinch hit by teammate Justin Foscue during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws to the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws to the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ian Happ extended his on-base streak to 29 games with an RBI single in the first inning that put Chicago ahead to stay, and the Cubs beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night for their second 10-game winning streak this season.

Chicago (27-12) has won 20 of its last 23 games, with three consecutive losses separating those long win streaks. It's the first time since 1935 the Cubs have two 10-game winning streaks in a season. The only time they had more was in 1906 with four.

The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers were the previous major league team with two 10-game winning streaks within the first 39 games of a season, according to Sportradar. They did it in their first 24 games.

Ben Brown and three Chicago relievers combined to hold Texas to two hits. Brown threw four hitless innings in his first start this season after 12 relief appearances. He struck out three and walked one.

Javier Assad (3-1) got the win, allowing one hit over 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Happ drew a leadoff walk in the third and scored on Seiya Suzuki's seventh homer, a two-run shot that made it 3-0. Michael Busch added a three-run double in the seventh.

Happ's on-base streak is the longest by a Cubs player since 2012, when Bryan LaHair reached safely in 30 consecutive games. The only longer active streak in the majors is 31 games for Nick Kurtz of the Athletics.

Texas didn't get a hit until pinch-hitter Justin Foscue's RBI single in the fifth made it 3-1. The Rangers have lost eight of their last 11 games.

Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (1-4) gave up three runs and four hits with three walks while throwing 87 pitches over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Up next

Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.27 ERA) pitches for the Cubs and Jack Leiter (1-3, 5.45) goes for the Rangers on Saturday night. Leiter is 0-3 with a 6.67 ERA in his last five starts.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

  • The Hugh Hewitt Show
    3:00PM - 5:00PM
     
    Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media   >>
     
  • The American Adversaries with Christopher Hart and Company
     
    The Titans of Talk Radio The Voice to be Reckoned With “Political, Professional   >>
     
  • Blue Darter Sports Central
     
    Apopka High School Sports news and interviews.
     
  • The Larry Elder Show
    8:00PM - 10:00PM
     
    Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from   >>
     
  • The Scott Jennings Show
    10:00PM - 12:00AM
     
    Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential   >>
     

See the Full Program Guide