JERED WEAVER was tagged with his ninth loss Tuesday night (Flickr/Keith Allison).

By Pete Zarustica

Heading in opposite directions, the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs continued their streaks Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. The Cubbies prevailed 5-1 to post their eighth straight victory; the Angels suffered their fifth straight loss.

To add insult to injury, losing to the first place team in the National League Central Division dropped the Halos into last place in the American League West. Now 49-63, the Angels were leapfrogged by the Oakland A’s when they beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1.

Former Angel John Lackey (9-7) mastered the Orange County team easily, giving up just three hits and one run over eight innings. He struck out six batters and walked one. The starter for the visitors, Jered Weaver (8-9), was less successful. He lasted five innings, yielding eight hits and five runs (four earned) while being touched for two home runs.

Despite being rivals, there are no hard feelings between the former teammates. “I root for him when he’s not facing us,” Lackey said of Weaver. “He’s a good friend and I respect the way he’s still competing and still getting after it with stuff that’s less than it used to be. He’s still grinding and getting it done.”

The Angel offense is not getting much down now, though. After Kole Calhoun’s first inning home run, their bats were very quiet. In fact, Calhoun with a homer and a single, was one of just two batters to get a hit. Ji-Man Choi was the other.

Hoping to snap two streaks, the Angels will face the Cubs again on Wednesday. Ricky Nolasco (4-5) will start for the Halos, with Jason Hammel (11-5) going for the Cubs.