SOUTH BEND – The South Bend Cubs took sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division from West Michigan after a 2-1 win over the Whitecaps Sunday at Four Winds Field.

South Bend didn’t wait long to take the lead in the first inning against West Michigan starter Sandy Baez. Ian Rice produced his fifth RBI in his last three first innings by scoring P.J. Higgins on a sacrifice fly after Higgins posted a one-out double.

Jesse Hodges led off the second inning with a double and was balked to third base. Hodges crossed home plate on Matt Rose’s ground out to give South Bend a 2-0 lead.

Cubs starter Kyle Twomey got Whitecap hitters to slap into two of the three double plays turned by the South Bend defense over his five innings of work. Twomey (2-3) earned the victory after allowing four hits and one run.

Greyfer Eregua took care of the sixth and seventh innings by firing two shutout innings. John Williamson retired the two batters he was brought in to retire in the eighth with Scott Effross getting the final out of the eighth.

Effross also got the last three outs of the game in the ninth to earn his first save.

South Bend took three out of four games in the series against West Michigan to re-gain sole possession of first place in the East with 13 games to go.

The South Bend Cubs will have the day off Monday and then begin a three-game series against the Dayton Dragons Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.