By Mike Monaco

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – South Bend struck for two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat West Michigan, 3-1, on Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark in the middle matchup of the three-game series.

The Cubs (16-14 second half, 45-52 overall) broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh to take a 2-0 lead in the series with the Whitecaps (17-12 second half, 50-48 overall).

In his South Bend debut, Cubs first-round pick Ian Happ recorded two walks and a single. Happ, who joined the squad earlier Saturday, was the ninth overall selection in June’s draft out of Cincinnati.

Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres (3-for-4, two singles, one double, one RBI) nabbed his 35th multi-hit effort of the season. Second baseman David Bote added two hits, a run and an RBI.

Cubs starter James Norwood tossed four innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits, one walk and fanning one. Norwood set down eight in a row and didn’t allow a hit after the first inning. The 2014 seventh-round pick was activated from the disabled list Friday. Norwood began the season in South Bend and made six appearances before landing on the disabled list in mid-May. The righty returned to Arizona, where he made four starts for the AZL Cubs.

Cubs left-hander Jordan Minch delivered 1.2 scoreless relief innings in his first outing off the disabled list, and righty Ryan McNeil struck out five in 2.1 shutout frames.

West Michigan began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles. Right fielder Mike Gerber supplied an sacrifice fly to left field to plate leadoff man Rashad Brown and push the Whitecaps ahead 1-0.

In the top of the third with runners at the corners, Torres punched an RBI single into shallow center field to score Bote and knot the game at 1-1.

Bote knocked an RBI single up the middle to score catcher Gioskar Amaya and lift South Bend up 2-1 in the top of the seventh. Left fielder Rashad Crawford then bounced into a potential double-play ball, but Whitecaps shortstop David Gonzalez misfired on the throw to first, and Cubs third baseman Jesse Hodges scored to make it 3-1.

South Bend righty Alexander Santana earned the save in the ninth.

South Bend and West Michigan meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET in the series finale at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan. Cubs right-hander Zach Hedges is scheduled to oppose a TBD starter for the Whitecaps.