By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND – Lake County starter Jordan Milbrath dazzled over seven shutout innings, as the Captains cruised by South Bend, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Four Winds Field.

The right-hander allowed only two hits and one walk in his longest start of the season.

The Cubs (9-9 second half, 38-47 overall), who claimed the first two matchups in the four-game set, didn’t advance a runner to second base against the Captains (6-11 second half, 42-43 overall) until the bottom of the eighth inning, when South Bend mounted a late threat.

Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton struck out a career-high eight Captains in 6.2 innings. He surrendered six hits, walked two and plunked two before exiting with a runner at first and a 3-0 deficit in the top of the seventh inning.

Lake County jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second when third baseman Taylor Murphy poked his sixth home run of the season to right field.

In the fifth, Captains No. 9 hitter Ordomar Valdez coaxed a two-out walk, stole second and scored on an RBI double to right field by center fielder Greg Allen, pushing Lake County ahead 3-0.

Cubs left fielder Charcer Burks sliced an RBI single to right field to score second baseman Andrew Ely in the eighth, pulling South Bend within two, 3-1. But with runners at second and third, Lake County reliever Nick Pasquale got Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres to fly out to center field.

South Bend reliever Dillon Maples struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings.

Cubs center fielder Rashad Crawford (2-for-3) notched a bunt single in the sixth and an infield single in the eighth.

Ely snapped a 0-for-21 stretch with his line-drive single to center in the eighth.

Captains righty Luke Eubank earned the save in the ninth.

South Bend and Lake County conclude their four-game series Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Zach Hedges (3.84 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Captains lefty Sean Brady (3.72 ERA).