The Cubs and Braves had to wait to play a makeup game on Thursday night because of rain back in April. Chicago’s bullpen was short-handed, and starter Kyle Hendricks was pressed into relief duty, so of course the game went extra innings. It’s been that kind of stretch for the Cubs.

Tyler Flowers smacked an RBI single with two outs in the 11th inning and Nick Markakis hit two home runs, including a game-tying homer in the ninth, to lift the Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs trailed, 2-0, in the eighth against Atlanta starter Lucas Harrell, who was lifted after he plunked Kris Bryant on the left knee with two outs. Hunter Cervenka then hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch, and Ben Zobrist followed with an RBI double. Rookie Willson Contreras lined a pitch off Jim Johnson into center for a triple, allowing Rizzo and Zobrist to score and the Cubs to go ahead, 3-2.
But Markakis, who hit a two-run homer in the first, tied the score with a leadoff shot in the Atlanta ninth off Hector Rondon. One out later things got a little tense, as Jeff Francoeur and Contreras exchanged words after an inside pitch by Rondon. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown.
“I called a fastball in, and [Francoeur] didn’t appreciate that,” Contreras said. “After that he started talking to me, and I stood up in front of him. I care about my team. I tried to protect my pitcher.”
Cubs manager Joe Maddon wasn’t upset, because he felt the Braves pitchers were just missing when they hit his players.
“I don’t think anything was malicious on their part,” Maddon said. “Francoeur took exception, which he shouldn’t have.”
Spencer Patton walked Freddie Freeman to open the Braves’ 11th, and one out later, Freeman advanced on Adonis Garcia’s single to second baseman Javier Baez. One out later, Flowers lined a single to right to score Freeman and hand the Cubs their seventh loss in the last eight games.
“I think it’s just good to get a win, especially against a ballclub like that,” Markakis said after the Braves secured a split of the six-game season series. “In a ballpark like this, it’s tough to come in and win. Harrell gave us a great performance on the mound, and the bullpen came in and did a great job. It was just a great ballgame all the way around. I’m glad we came out on top.”
The game was originally scheduled for April 30 and postponed because of inclement weather. Rain interfered this time as well, delaying the start of the game one hour and 35 minutes. Both teams were in different situations on April 30. Fredi Gonzalez was Atlanta’s manager at that time, and the Cubs had yet to lose consecutive games.
Dario Alvarez, who has struck out 22 of the 40 batters he faced, recorded three strikeouts in a perfect 10th before surrendering consecutive singles to open the 11th. But with Arodys Vizcaino unavailable, the Braves turned to flamethrower Mauricio Cabrera, who got Addison Russell to hit into a double play and then used a changeup instead of his triple-digit fastball to end the game on Jeimer Candelario’s flyout.
“Being able to find the zone in that situation with his stuff is a great sign of maturity for a young guy like that,” Flowers said of Cabrera. “Then, even with the last pitch [changing] to a changeup right there, I thought that was pretty [brave] on his part. I liked it.”
Francoeur’s leadoff double in the second inning gave the Braves three hits through their first six at-bats, but they did not record another until Markakis opened the ninth with his game-tying solo shot. Markakis entered the game with just two homers and two previous multihomer games, the most recent having been recorded for the Orioles on Sept. 14, 2008.
Harrell retired the first eight batters he faced and then became an adept escape artist after allowing the Cubs to put the leadoff hitter on base during each of his final four full innings. The 31-year-old right-hander kept a shutout bid alive as he retired the first two batters he faced in the eighth, but he ended his 113-pitch night by hitting Bryant with a 1-2 changeup. Cervenka then hit Rizzo with a 3-0 fastball, setting the stage for Zobrist’s RBI double. Contreras’ go-ahead triple off Johnson had the makings of a game-tying single before the ball bounced over Ender Inciarte’s head in center field. Still, in sticking with Harrell into the eighth, Braves manager Brian Snitker showed he has gained quick confidence in the veteran hurler, who has impressed in two starts since getting an unexpected promotion from Triple-A Gwinnett.
“He followed up a good [start] with an even better one,” Snitker said. “I just liked how he attacks the strike zone and keeps the ball down. I can’t say enough about him. He’s been really, really good and aggressive. I like that. He made some big pitches when he got in trouble.”
Atlanta will remain in Chicago to begin a three-game series against the White Sox on Friday at 7:10 p.m. CT. The Braves will send Matt Wisler to the mound to match up against Chris Sale, who will be bidding for his 15th win. Wisler has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his past four starts.  Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast beginning with the pregame show at 6 PM on the Braves Radio Network.

The Nashville Sounds were held to five hits in a 1-0 loss to the New Orleans Zephyrs in front of 7,487 fans Thursday night at First Tennessee Park.

It’s the fourth time in the last six games the Sounds have been held to one run or less. Overall, Nashville has lost seven of their last eight games and is hitting just .207 as a team in the month of July.

Starter Jesse Hahn was dialed in from the beginning and turned in his first quality start since May 28 when he was with the Athletics.

The right-hander allowed one run on just three hits in six innings. Hahn walked one and struck out five in the tough-luck loss. The lone run he allowed was on Peter Mooney’s RBI single in the third inning.

New Orleans pitching was just a little bit better as four hurlers combined on the five-hit shutout. Starter Jose Urena worked 4 2/3 innings followed by Craig Breslow, Cody Ege and Brian Ellington combining to throw the final 4 1/3 frames.

Along with their five hits, the Sounds drew six walks and had a number of opportunities to score. They stranded a pair of runners in the first, second and seventh innings. They left a total of 10 runners on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

In the seventh, Bruce Maxwell drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Arismendy Alcantara’s single to center. Both were left stranded when Chad Pinder was retired on a deep fly out to center and Max Muncy struck out.

Ryon Healy started the bottom of the eighth with a sharp single up the middle but was quickly erased on a double play.

Colin Walsh singled with one out in the ninth to put the tying run on base again. Jaycob Brugman entered as a pinch-runner but was left standing at second after Maxwell went down on strikes and Alcantara flied to center to end the game.

Breslow picked up the win in relief and Ellington earned the save. The four Zephyrs pitchers combined to rack up 13 strikeouts in the win.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for Friday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Zach Neal (6-1, 2.61) starts for Nashville against right-hander Dylan Axelrod (5-4, 4.09) for New Orleans. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

The first-place Nashville Sounds begin the final homestand prior to the All-Star break when they welcome the New Orleans Zephyrs to First Tennessee Park from July 7-10.

The four-game set against the Miami Marlins affiliate is the final series before the Pacific Coast League takes on the International League at the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Sounds begin play after the All-Star break on an eight-game road trip and do not return to First Tennessee Park until Friday, July 22.

Below is a preview for each game of the homestand:

Thursday, July 7 vs. New Orleans – 7:05 p.m.
• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• Sports Theme Night and Duffle Bag Giveaway presented by Middle Tennessee Hyundai Dealers – the first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a Sounds Duffle Bag. Fans are encouraged to wear Sounds apparel or their favorite jersey.
• Throwback Thursday presented by iHeartMedia – the Sounds will wear throwback jerseys to commemorate the team’s original uniform style from 1978. Fans can purchase Coca-Cola fountain soda, domestic draft beers and 12oz. cans for $2 each. Bud and Bud Light 16oz. cans and import and craft draft beer can be purchased for $3 each.

Friday, July 8 vs. New Orleans – 7:05 p.m.
• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• FOX17 post-game fireworks presented by Koorsen Fire & Security.

Saturday, July 9 vs. New Orleans – 7:05 p.m.
• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• The Sounds will wear special State of Tennessee tri-star jerseys that will be auctioned during the game. Each bid winner will be allowed on the field after the game to receive their autographed jersey from a Sounds player.

Sunday, July 10 vs. New Orleans – 1:05 p.m.
• Gates open at 12:00 p.m.
• Help celebrate Booster’s Birthday Bash with the Booster Bank Giveaway presented by First Tennessee – the first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a Booster Bank.
• Pre-game autograph session with select Sounds players from 12:15-12:30.
• Military Sunday presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, Tennessee 811 and WSMV Channel 4 – the Sounds will wear camouflage jerseys to honor active/veteran military men, women & families.
• Post-game Kids Run the Bases (12 & under) presented by First Tennessee.

The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.