CHICAGO -- Nick Markakis entered the day with two home runs. He doubled that and helped the Atlanta Braves to a rare feel-good moment in a rough season.Markakis two homers including a tying solo shot in the ninth inning, and Tyler Flowers two-out single in the 11th early Friday morning gave the Braves a 4-3 victory over the slumping Chicago Cubs.It was big to get a win, especially against a ball club like that, in ballpark like this, Markakis said.The last-place Braves nearly wasted a second straight impressive start for Lucas Harrell, who threw 7 2/3 innings of four-hit ball in his second start since 2014.Willson Contreras hit a two-run triple in a three-run eighth inning off Atlantas bullpen to put the Cubs up 3-2. But closer Hector Rondon blew his fourth save when he gave up the second homer to Markakis to lead off the ninth, Atlantas first hit since the second inning.I knew I hit it good, Markakis said.Two innings later, Flowers singled to right off Spencer Patton (1-1) and Freddie Freeman, who walked, barely beat Ben Zobrists throw home.Dario Alvarez (3-1) worked a perfect 10th before giving up consecutive singles to Contreras and Jason Heyward to lead off the 11th.Mauricio Cabrera came in and got his second save by getting Addison Russell to ground into a double play before Jeimer Candelario flied to center.Hes answered the call, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said of Cabrera. Hes a very confident young man.The Braves ended a four-game skid while the Cubs lost for the 13th time in 18 games.It happens to everybody, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of his teams woes. For anybody out there who believes it doesnt happen to every team, youre wrong, it does.Tensions boiled after Markakis fourth homer. After Rondon struck out Adonis Garcia, Rondon threw an inside fastball to Jeff Francoeur. He and Contreras started jawing, and the benches and bullpens emptied. There was only some pushing and no ejections.I called a fastball in and he didnt appreciate that, Contreras said. We were just trying to go in on him. After that he started talking to me and I stood in front of him.Before that, Cubs slugger Kris Bryant was twice hit by Harrell, one on a curveball, and Hunter Cervenka plunked Anthony Rizzo.Markakis put Atlanta ahead with a two-run homer in the first off Jason Hammel. The right-hander settled down to retire 11 straight before he was lifted with cramping in his thumb on the humid night after a four-pitch walk to Gordon Beckham.Cervenka allowed an RBI single to Zobrist in the eighth. Then Jim Johnson entered and the rookie Contreras hit a sinking liner to center that got by Ender Inciarte and scored two runs.But the Braves rallied in the makeup of an April 30 rainout that included a scary incident before the game, which was delayed 1 hour, 35 minutes by rain.A man was carted off Wrigley Field and hospitalized after he slipped and fell to the warning track while attempting to jump from the bleachers before the game. The Cubs didnt identify the man and didnt provide his condition.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Julio Teheran, Atlantas lone All-Star, returned to the team after being treated for an infection due to ingrown hair on his right thigh. Teheran thinks hell start Saturday. I threw a bullpen today and I feel pretty good, he said. ... Beckham (hamstring) started at shortstop and went 0 for 4 after being activated off the disabled list before the game. Emilio Bonifacio was designated for assignment.NOMADSWhen the Braves travel crosstown Friday night to face the White Sox, theyll play in their fifth park in seven days. Atlanta was at home Saturday, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Sunday, then had three games in Philadelphia.KROLS HOMECOMINGThe schedule worked out great for Braves RHP Ian Krol, who is from nearby Naperville. He plans to stay in the Chicago area through the All-Star break.Its phenomenal, Krol said.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Matt Wisler (3-8, 4.16 ERA) goes up against White Sox ace Chris Sale (14-2, 2.93) on Friday night. Jeremy Walker Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Mike Soroka Jersey . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-hank-aaron-jersey-large-347z.html .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Dansby Swanson Jersey . LOUIS -- St. William Contreras Jersey . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. RICHMOND, Va. -- The National Federation of State High School Associations has directed its members to regulate the number of pitches a high school player can throw in a game amid growing concerns about overworking young arms.The federation did not proscribe a specific number , but a limit must be established by next season, said Elliot Hopkins, the NFHS director of sports and student services. The limits will go into effect in the spring of 2017.Every state plus the District of Columbia are federation members, Hopkins said Tuesday. Each state except Michigan has its own sports medicine advisory committee that will likely be involved in settling on a specific number.I think theyre better suited to determine what the number is, Hopkins said, noting the number in warmer climates, where baseball season starts earlier, might be higher.States like Texas have already established their limit at 125 pitches, and Alabama, Colorado and Kentucky have said that will be their number, too, Hopkins said. Minnesota will use 105 during the season and 115 or 120 in playoffs.Anecdotal evidence suggested it was time to make the change. As a member of the USA Baseball sports medicine advisory committee, Hopkins said he sits between well-known sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews and former major league pitcher Tommy John at meetings. Andrews in 1974 pioneered a surgery, first performed on and then named for Tommy John, that reconstructs the ulnar collateral ligament in a pitchers elbow, allowing them to resume their careers after rehabilitation.During those meetings, Dr. Andrews always expressed how more and more of his service, and his surgeries, revolved around younger kids, Hopkins said.USA Baseball, the national governing body for amateur baseball, in 2014 launched the program Pitch Smart, which sets age-appropriate guidelines for the number of pitches a pitcher as young as 7 can throw and the amount of rest they should get between pitching appearances. Most amateur baseballl leagues have adopted the guidelines, which set 120 pitches as the maximum recommended for pitchers ages 19-22.dddddddddddd It then also requires they receives four days of rest.One impact Hopkins hopes will come from the rule change will be the involvement of more players.You have maybe three or four pitchers in your bullpen typically, he said. Now, well get some kids who really cant throw five innings, cant give you five innings, but they can give you a solid two, and now youve got a bullpen and you get more kids involved.The federation will no longer require its member associations to require a certain amount of rest between appearances by a pitcher.Virginia coach Brian OConnor, whose team won the national championship in 2015, called the changes a step in the right direction but was not sure a single pitch count number will have the desired effect.Somebody could throw 75 pitches three different times in a week, he said.Its not a be all, end all, said Sean Ryan, a high school coach in Richmond whose team at Benedictine plays in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association and will not be subjected to the federation rules. He noted that a young pitcher often moves to another position during a game, or in the teams next game, where he continues throwing in between innings and in the game.Like other sports, youth baseball has a cottage industry offering year-round, specialized instruction. OConnor said he is a big believer in athletes playing several sports, not just baseball.It has everything to do with, I think, other sports creating better athleticism in players and I think its important that they stay competitive year round, he said. I would rather see them on a basketball court working together as a team and staying physically active and competing to win.---Follow Hank on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr ' ' '
