By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND – Zach Hedges continued his strong stretch, and the offense backed him, as South Bend stumped Lake County, 8-1, in the series finale at Four Winds Field on a hot, humid Monday night.

The Cubs (10-9 second half, 39-47 overall) never trailed and used a four-run fifth inning to cruise past the Captains (6-12 second half, 42-44 overall). South Bend took three of four from Lake County.

“I think we found a good focus level of how to get out here the second half and what our common goals as a team are,” Hedges said. “Just coming out here, having fun and when it gets to the game time, give it 110 percent and see where it takes us every pitch.”

Hedges worked seven innings of one-run ball and fanned a career-high seven Captains. The righty surrendered four hits and walked three. Hedges has logged at least six innings in each of his last five starts.

“Again just pounding the zone with sinkers, the defense letting them work and just trusting them that they’re gonna make great plays,” Hedges said. “Man, they’ve been great all year. Just felt like I had good presence out there and some great command tonight.”

Cubs center fielder Charcer Burks (2-for-5, two runs, one triple), first baseman Gioskar Amaya (2-for-3, one walk), second baseman David Bote (2-for-4, two runs) and right fielder Jeffrey Baez (3-for-4, three RBI) spearheaded the offensive effort.

Through the first three innings, the only baserunners reached on an error and a walk. Captains first baseman Bobby Bradley collected the first hit of the ballgame with a bloop single in the top of the fourth.

Burks grabbed the Cubs’ first hit by leading off the bottom of the fourth with a triple into the left-field corner. Three batters later, designated hitter Yasiel Balaguert rolled an infield single up the third-base line, scoring Burks and staking South Bend to a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Baez clocked an RBI single into the right-center field gap and scored Bote to make it 2-0. Baez then scored from second on Burks’ infield single and the ensuing error by Lake County third baseman Taylor Murphy. Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres then slapped an RBI single down the first-base line to score Burks and make it 4-0. Amaya singled to left-center field. When the throw from the outfield missed the cutoff man, Torres raced around third and slid under the tag to make it 5-0.

The Captains jumped on the board in the top of the sixth when Bradley roped an RBI single into the left-field corner, pulling Lake County within four, 5-1.

The Cubs climbed back ahead, 7-1, in the last of the sixth when Baez bashed a two-run shot to left field off of Captains reliever Justin Garcia.

South Bend catcher Erick Castillo skied a sacrifice fly to score left fielder Kevin Encarnacion in the eighth, pushing the advantage to 8-1.

South Bend righty Ryan McNeil did not allow a run in the eighth and ninth frames.

South Bend will enjoy an off day Tuesday before starting a three-game series against Lansing on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, Michigan. Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (5.13 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Lugnuts righty Jesus Tinoco (3.55 ERA).