By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND – An early South Bend lead evaporated into a slight Great Lakes advantage, and the Loons held on for the 5-2 win to even the series at a game apiece Wednesday night at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (14-13 second half, 43-51 overall) led 2-0 after three, but Great Lakes (10-17 second half, 48-47 overall) nabbed lone runs in the in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings and two in the ninth to force a rubber game Thursday.

South Bend starter Jake Stinnett retired the first eight batters he faced, but the Loons grabbed a run in the fourth on three hits and added another tally on two more knocks in the sixth. Stinnett left with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the seventh with South Bend trailing 3-2. The righty scattered nine hits over 6.2 innings, fanned five, hit two and didn’t walk a batter for the first time this season.

South Bend righty Dillon Maples worked the last 2.1 innings in relief.

Cubs right fielder Jeffrey Baez (3-for-4, one stolen base), the reigning Midwest League Player of the Week, extended his hitting streak to 11 games and collected his eighth multi-hit effort during the stretch. Catcher Erick Castillo added a pair of hits as well.

Cubs designated hitter Yasiel Balaguert coaxed a walk and stole second base, just his second swipe of the season, to begin the second frame. After moving to third on a groundout, Balaguert scored on a bloop single by Castillo.

In the third, Cubs left fielder Kevin Encarnacion dropped down a two-out bunt single to plate Baez from third and extend the South Bend lead to 2-0.

The Loons collected three consecutive hits to start the fourth, and catcher Julian Leon’s RBI single down the left-field line pulled Great Lakes within one, 2-1.

Great Lakes tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly to center by first baseman Matt Beaty.

The Loons surged ahead in the seventh when leadoff man Mike Ahmed served an RBI single into left-center field to score left fielder Federico Celli and push Great Lakes up 3-2.

Celli provided insurance in the ninth with an RBI single to score pinch runner Jimmy Allen from second. Ahmed’s RBI single to center widened the gap to 5-2.

South Bend and Great Lakes close out their three-game series Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Michael Wagner (2.13 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Loons righty Tommy Bergjans (4.50 ERA).