By MIKE MONACO

SOUTH BEND – After turning 20 hits into just seven runs through the first two games of the series, Lansing rode 13 hits to a 6-4 win over South Bend on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (17-16) cut the margin to 6-4 in the ninth with a pair of runs but could not complete the comeback. The Lugnuts (18-15) notched four doubles and a pair of two-run home runs to claim their first victory in the third game of the series. South Bend collected just two hits through the first five innings, as Lansing left-handed starting pitcher Shane Dawson (six innings, four hits, two runs, six strikeouts) dazzled to begin the night.

Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres provided the bulk of South Bend’s offensive highlights (three of its eight hits), smoking an opposite-field single, a double and an RBI single.

Lansing surged to an early advantage against Cubs starter Erick Leal. Leadoff man Anthony Alford reached on a swinging bunt, and No. 2 hitter Richard Urena hooked a two-run home run down the right-field line, pushing the Lugnuts ahead 2-0. Lansing added runners at the corners with just one out, but designated hitter D.J. Davis flew out to center field, and Cubs center fielder Rashad Crawford gunned down the runner from third, Rowdy Tellez, trying to tag and score.

Lugnuts right fielder J.D. Davis walked to start the third and scored on an RBI double by Tellez, making it 3-0. Tellez advanced to third on a ground ball, and catcher Danny Jansen pushed him home with a two-out bloop single to left-center field.

Cubs left fielder Charcer Burks laid out to make a full-extension diving catch in the top of the 1-2-3 fourth inning. Leal allowed one hit in the fifth and stranded runners at second and third. Leal surrendered nine hits and the four runs in five innings.

South Bend finally found some offense in the sixth inning. Crawford was clipped with a breaking ball and moved to second on a groundout. Torres then scalded a line-drive single to left-center field, putting South Bend on the board, 4-1. Two batters later, first baseman Cael Brockmeyer reeled in Torres with an RBI double to left field, cutting the deficit in half.

But the Lugnuts snatched the runs right back in the top of the seventh when Tellez clubbed a no-doubt, two-run home run off the bottom of the video board in right field, lifting Lansing up 6-2.

Cubs reliever James Norwood worked 1.1 innings and allowed two earned runs. Norwood struck out Lugnuts third baseman Gunnar Heidt with a 94 MPH fastball to start his evening. Right-hander Francisco Carrillo cleaned up with 2.2 shutout frames. Tellez finished 4-for-5 with three doubles, the home run and a flyout to deep center field.
The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Lansing right-handed reliever Andrew Case worked out of trouble, inducing two flyouts and fanning Burks.

After leaving two more aboard in the eighth, Burks roped an RBI single through the middle in the ninth, scoring Crawford and pulling the Cubs within three, 6-3. Designated hitter Yasiel Balaguert then singled to left field, plating Burks.

South Bend and Lansing close out their four-game series Thursday at 10:35 a.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Zach Hedges (2-1, 2.77 ERA) is set to oppose Lugnuts righty Conner Greene (2-2, 4.66 ERA)