Nico Hoerner’s sac fly wins it for Cubs in the 10th (0:21)Nico Hoerner’s sac fly hands the Mets their 11th consecutive loss. (0:21)
ESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsApr 19, 2026, 05:42 PM ET
CHICAGO — Nico Hoerner hit a sacrifice fly off Craig Kimbrel in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs sent the New York Mets to their 11th consecutive loss by rallying for a 2-1 victory Sunday.
It’s the longest losing streak for the Mets since they dropped 11 in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in 2004. They have been outscored 62-19 during the slide, and they are averaging just 2.9 runs over 17 games in April.
“Eleven losses, that’s a lot, whether it’s in April or any point of the season,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have got to find a way.”
It’s the longest April losing streak in Mets franchise history, and it’s the fastest to 15 losses for New York since 1983.
“This feeling sucks,” Francisco Lindor said. “We’re professionals and we have got to find a way to do whatever it takes to end up on top after 27 outs and sometimes 30 outs. It’s not a good feeling, but no one here is hanging their heads. Everybody has got their head up high, fighting for each other.”
Pinch hitter Michael Conforto tied it for Chicago in the ninth with an RBI double off closer Devin Williams.
“They gave me a lead,” Williams said. “It’s my job to hold it and I made a mistake. It cost us the game today.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong opened the 10th on second as the Cubs’ automatic runner. Dansby Swanson fouled off two bunt attempts before Kimbrel (0-1) threw a wild pitch, moving Crow-Armstrong to third.
After Swanson struck out swinging, Hoerner lofted a flyball to right, and Crow-Armstrong scored easily.
Caleb Thielbar (1-1) worked a scoreless 10th for Chicago, which posted its season-high fifth straight win.
The Cubs rallied in the ninth against Williams. Ian Happ hit a leadoff single, and pinch runner Scott Kingery scored from first on Conforto’s one-out double into the right-field corner against his former team, tying it at 1. Conforto was stranded when Williams struck out Carson Kelly and Crow-Armstrong, both swinging.
Crow-Armstrong hit a leadoff triple in the third, but Peterson retired Swanson on a grounder to third before Hoerner lined to second for an inning-ending double play.
Nico Hoerner’s sac fly wins it for Cubs in the 10th (0:21)Nico Hoerner’s sac fly hands the Mets their 11th consecutive loss. (0:21)
Chicago had at least one baserunner in each of the first seven innings.
“It’s gonna get loud. It’s gonna get very loud,” Lindor said. “Everyone here knows it. We’ve gotta stick together. And fight. Fight.”
Nico Hoerner’s sac fly hands the Mets their 11th consecutive loss. (0:21)