By Mike Monaco

MIDLAND, Mich. — Just one week after he shut out Great Lakes over eight dazzling innings, South Bend starter Erick Leal gave up three first-inning runs, and the Loons topped the Cubs, 4-1, in the series opener Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.

Great Lakes (13-19 second half, 51-49 overall) used the initial inning and a strong start from Pablo Fernandez to defeat South Bend (16-16 second half, 45-54 overall).

Leal worked six innings of three-run ball, allowing seven hits and one walk and fanning five. After giving up the three runs on four hits in the first, Leal settled in and handled the Loons through the next five frames. The righty retired the final seven batters he faced.

Cubs third baseman Jesse Hodges (2-for-3, two singles) supplied a pair of knocks in South Bend’s six-hit performance.

South Bend reliever Ryan McNeil allowed a run over two innings with three strikeouts.

Loons leadoff man Michael Ahmed bashed a solo home run on the second pitch of the bottom of the first inning, lifting Great Lakes to a 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, with runners at first and second, right fielder Kyle Garlick clobbered a two-run triple to straightaway center field, pushing the margin to 3-0.

Loons starter Pablo Fernandez set down the first nine batters he faced, but Cubs right fielder Jeffrey Baez began the fourth by bashing a solo home run down the left-field line, pulling South Bend on the board, 3-1.

Great Lakes shortstop Nick Dean and Ahmed began the seventh with consecutive singles. Dean then scored from third on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Jimmy Allen, extending the lead to 4-1.

The Cubs had runners at second and third in the eighth, but Loons reliever David Reid-Foley punched out South Bend shortstop Gleyber Torres on a wicked breaking ball.

South Bend and Great Lakes clash Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan, in the middle matchup of the three-game series. Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton (4.97 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Loons righty Isaac Anderson (0.00 ERA).