Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, June 17, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)ATLANTA (AP) – Mike Soroka won his eighth straight decision, Ozzie Albies homered and drove in four runs, and the surging Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 12-3 on Monday night.
Nick Markakis hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fifth inning as the NL East-leading Braves improved to 13-3 in June, best in the majors this month. Atlanta, which scored 15 runs a day earlier against Philadelphia, has plated 90 runs in winning 10 of its last 11.
New York continued to struggle on the road, losing for the 12th time in 16 games away from Citi Field and dropping 8 games behind the Braves.
Soroka’s winning streak is the longest in the majors by a pitcher under 22 since Dontrelle Willis won the same number for the 2003 Florida Marlins.
Soroka (8-1) gave up three runs, six hits and allowed just his third homer in 12 starts this year, a solo shot by Robinson Canó in the sixth. He walked one and struck out two in six innings.