By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND — Cedar Rapids rode a six-run eighth inning to a 9-5 come-from-behind win over South Bend on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (23-29) cracked open a 4-1 lead early and clung to a 4-3 margin entering the eighth. But the Kernels (35-18), who boast the second-best record in the entire Midwest League, drilled South Bend’s bullpen to claim the opener and snap the Cubs’ three-game winning streak.

South Bend starter Zach Hedges allowed two earned runs (three total) in six innings. The right-hander fanned two and walked one while allowing six hits to the Kernels.

Cedar Rapids jumped on the board in the top of the first, using a walk, a hit batter, a single, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to claim the early 1-0 advantage.

The Cubs tied the score in the home half of the first. Center fielder Charcer Burks worked a five-pitch leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He then scored on second baseman Andrew Ely’s RBI groundout.

In the bottom of the second, South Bend catcher Gioskar Amaya skied a three-run home run down the left-field line to propel the Cubs ahead, 4-1.

The Kernels nabbed a run back in the top of the third, as center fielder Tanner English scooted in from third on a double-play ball.

A second South Bend error in the top of the sixth produced another Cedar Rapids run. After Kernels third baseman T.J. White reached second and moved to third on a groundout, White scored on a sacrifice fly to center from designated hitter Alex Real, which pulled the Kernels within one, 4-3.

With runners at second and third and one out in the top of the eighth, South Bend turned to reliever David Garner. Kernels designated hitter Alex Real rolled a dribbler just in front of home plate, and Garner was unable to bare-hand a toss home to nab White, who slid in from third to tie the game 4-4. Two batters later, right fielder Edgar Corcino hooked a two-run double to right field to lift Cedar Rapids up, 6-4. Leadoff man Tanner English then followed with a two-run two-bagger to left. Left fielder Zack Larson stretched the lead to 9-4 with a double of his own.

South Bend was held scoreless from the second inning until the bottom of the ninth, when left fielder Rashad Crawford took an inside-out swing and grooved a double to score right fielder Kevin Encarnacion.

Cubs third baseman Jason Vosler went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

South Bend and Cedar Rapids meet for the middle game Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton (1-4, 3.62 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Kernels righty Dereck Rodriguez, who is making his Cedar Rapids debut.