By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND – South Bend scored 10 unanswered runs, and Trevor Clifton hurled seven strong innings, as the Cubs defeated Kane County, 10-2, on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field before a crowd of 5,029, a mark that pushed South Bend to a new single-season franchise attendance record of 259,530.

“Right now, we’re playing really good baseball,” Cubs first baseman David Bote said.

The Cubs (19-20 second half, 48-58 overall) bounced back to claim the middle game after losing Tuesday’s series opener, 1-0, in 12 innings, despite nine no-hit innings from starter Erick Leal.

“Leal was absolutely special yesterday,” Bote said. “You don’t get to experience that very often. He was special. You see what it looks like to see a disappointed group of hitters after not being able to put up one run on his special night. We were just ready to get back at ‘em.”

The Cougars (29-10 second half, 65-42 overall) scored two runs in the top of the second, but the Cubs tied the game in the third and surged ahead for good in the fifth.

Bote (3-for-5, three singles, two RBI) produced in his first game in the cleanup spot in the order. Second baseman Vimael Machin drove in a pair of runs and made a diving stop in the top of the second.

“We plated fundamental baseball,” Bote said. “We got guys over. We got guys in. We didn’t do that as well yesterday, but today we did the job.”

Clifton matched a career-high with the seven innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Kane County loaded the bases in the second, and No. 9 hitter Victor Reyes delivered a two-run single to center field to push the Cougars ahead 2-0.

Cubs designated hitter Gioskar Amaya doubled down the left-field line to start the home half of the second. After advancing to third on a flyout to center, Amaya scored on a groundout by Machin, trimming the gap to 2-1.

In the third, Cubs leadoff man Jeffrey Baez worked a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error and scored on an RBI groundout by shortstop Gleyber Torres, tying the game 2-2.

The Cubs grabbed the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fifth when center fielder Rashad Crawford, who doubled to start the frame, scored from second on an error by Cougars first baseman Marty Herum. Left fielder Ian Happ then scored from second on an RBI single by Bote, stretching the advantage to 4-2.

Machin yanked an RBI single through the right side to plate third baseman Jesse Hodges in the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bote trickled one back to the pitcher, and Torres raced in from second to score after the throw to first, widening the margin to 6-2.

Cubs reliever Alexander Santana entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and escaped trouble.

The Cubs then loaded the bases in the home eighth, and Baez smashed an RBI triple to make it 9-2. Torres then scorched a sacrifice fly to center to push the lead to 10-2.

All nine Cubs starters reached base.

South Bend and Kane County wrap up their three-game series Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs left-hander Tommy Thorpe (3.67 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Cougars lefty Josh Taylor (1.67 ERA).