SOUTH BEND — After squandering late leads on back-to-back nights, South Bend waltzed back into the win column with an all-around effort in a 3-0 victory over Great Lakes on a chilly Monday night at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (5-7) gave away ninth-inning leads Saturday night and Sunday afternoon in the first two legs of the series against the Loons (6-3) but were able to salvage the finale.

“For days now we’ve been doing our job offensively and defensively at the beginning of the game, just hadn’t been able to close it out,” South Bend manager Jimmy Gonzalez said. “These guys showed tonight what they’re capable of doing, and they did it.”

Cubs starter Ryan Williams (1-0, 0.66 ERA) spun 5.2 shutout innings and scattered seven hits, four of which were infield singles and/or defensive misplays by South Bend. Williams left after allowing a hard-hit double with two outs in the sixth, but Cubs righty David Garner induced a soft lineout to end the threat.

“Just coming out and challenging the hitters, using his best stuff and going after them, not being afraid to pitch, using both sides of the plate, using all his off-speed pitches,” Gonzalez said of Williams. “You do that effectively, you’re going to have good results.”

Making his season debut, Garner only put one baserunner aboard in 1.1 scoreless innings. Garner, Chicago’s seventh-round pick in 2013, was added to the South Bend roster Sunday. Before pitching at Michigan State for three seasons, Garner was a three-sport standout at nearby Niles High School, roughly a 25-minute drive from Four Winds Field.

“He sure did look sharp,” Gonzalez said. “He just came in and threw strikes. He came out aggressive, used all his pitches and was effective.”

South Bend jumped ahead in the first inning, grabbing an early 2-0 lead. Chesny Young and Gioskar Amaya both drew walks and moved into scoring position on an off-target pickoff attempt and a wild pitch, respectively. With two outs and two strikes, Jesse Hodges roped a two-run single over the shortstop’s head to plate both. The Cubs have scored first in 11 of their 12 games.

Hodges was back at it in the fifth inning, supplying another two-out base knock. Hodges pounded an RBI single to left field to reel in Young from third and extend the margin to 3-0. The 21-year old Hodges has notched seven RBI in his last four games.

“It felt great. We’ve been working hard, day in and day out, so it felt nice to get those hits and get some RBIs for the team,” Hodges said.

All three runs came with two outs.

“It doesn’t really change much,” Hodges said of his mentality in two-out and/or two-strike situations. “I’m an aggressive hitter, so I’m trying to drive the ball as hard as I can in whatever count.”

South Bend righty James Norwood pitched two perfect final frames and earned the save.

In addition to Garner, South Bend outfielder Yasiel Balaguert made his season debut after being activated from the disabled list Monday. Balaguert (0-for-3, one walk) started in right field and batted seventh.

“I was excited for him, and he was very excited to get activated,” Gonzalez said of the 22-year old. “Sometimes it’s hard to come off the DL and have this time off, two weeks or so, and not see live pitching. And he took some good swings. He was ready.”

South Bend welcomes the Lake County Captains on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET for the first of a three-game set at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Jake Stinnett (0-1, 7.36 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Captains righty Dace Kime (0-2, 2.38 ERA).