CHICAGO — Tyler Flowers hit a go-ahead single in the 11th inning to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.
Flowers’ single to right field scored Freddie Freeman, who led off the inning with a walk. Nick Markakis powered the rest of the Braves’ offense as he went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs.
Atlanta (29-57) snapped a four-game losing streak as part of a makeup contest from an April 30 rainout. The Braves notched their sixth extra-innings victory of the season.
Willson Contreras finished 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs to lead the Cubs. Chicago (52-33) lost for the seventh time in the past eight contests and fell to 3-3 in extra innings.
Braves left-hander Dario Alvarez (3-1) pitched one scoreless inning to secure the win out of the bullpen.
Cubs right-hander Spencer Patton (1-1) drew the loss after allowing one run in two innings.
Braves right-hander Mauricio Cabrera recorded the final three outs for his second save. Jeimer Candelario flied out to center field to end the game at 12:34 a.m. Central Time.
Chicago scored three runs in the eighth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit. Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring single to right field to score Kris Bryant, and Contreras followed with a two-run triple to the center-field wall that scored Anthony Rizzo and Zobrist and gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.
Cubs closer Hector Rondon blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning as Atlanta evened the score at 3. Markakis ripped a line drive into the right-field bleachers for his second home run of the game and the third multi-home run game of Markakis’ career.
Two batters later, both teams’ benches cleared but no punches were thrown after Jeff Francoeur and Contreras exchanged words at home plate. No players were ejected and play resumed several minutes later. The testy exchange occurred one inning after Bryant and Rizzo were plunked in consecutive at-bats, with Bryant being hit by a pitch for the second time in four at-bats.
Chicago’s comeback spoiled a strong start by Braves right-hander Lucas Harrell, who allowed one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. Harrell walked two and struck out five.
Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel also did not figure into the decision. Hammel allowed two runs on three hits in five innings before leaving in the sixth inning because of cramping in his right hand.
Atlanta grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Nick Markakis’ third home run of the season. Markakis turned on a high fastball and launched a towering shot off the bottom of the right-field scoreboard.
Harrell retired the first eight hitters he faced before allowing a ground-ball single to Javier Baez in the third inning. Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte helped Harrell on defense by snaring a line drive and firing a throw to second base to double off Kris Bryant and squelch a Cubs rally in the fourth inning.
NOTES: The start of Thursday’s game was delayed 1 hour and 35 minutes due to rain. … Chicago OF Dexter Fowler (strained right hamstring) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday with Single-A South Bend. Fowler, 30, has been on the 15-day disabled list since June. He will be re-evaluated Saturday and could be activated to play in his first All-Star Game on Tuesday. … Atlanta INF Gordon Beckham was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Beckham missed 33 games after he strained his left hamstring June 1. … Cubs RHP Adam Warren could earn another start shortly after the All-Star break, manager Joe Maddon said. Warren limited Cincinnati to one run in five innings during his first start of the season Wednesday. … Braves OF Emilio Bonifacio was designated for assignment Thursday. Bonifacio, 31, hit .129 (4-for-31) with one RBI in 15 games.