MIDLAND, Mich. – It looked as though the Great Lakes Loons were going to drop their first series in the month of May with the South Bend Cubs leading late. But a two-run home run from Gage Green in the seventh inning propelled the Loons in front for good for the 5-3 victory on Thursday afternoon at Dow Diamond.

“It felt good to take the lead and any time you hit (a home run) it feels good, to finally get the first one of the season was really nice,” Green said. “He just came back with another slider. The first he threw was really good, down and in. The second one was hanging a little bit and I was able to put a good swing on it.”

Los Angeles Dodgers 11th round pick in 2015 Imani Abdullah made his season debut for the Loons on the mound and, other than being tagged for two home runs by Cubs slugger Eloy Jimenez, the right-hander had a solid debut. The 6-foot-4 teenager allowed three runs on three hits and had seven strikeouts in five innings.

While the Loons improved to an impressive 11-5 wearing their alternate green uniforms, Garrett Harrison (W, 1-2) was able to give the bullpen a rest as he tossed three scoreless innings of relief. Alex Hermeling (SV, 1) issued a walk in the 9th but didn’t allow another baserunner. The Loons (17-20) have now played five consecutive series without dropping a set, which dates back to May 2.

“I think it’s fun any time you have the fans out there cheering,” Green said of the 5,473 fans at the game on a School Kids Day presented by MidMichigan Health. “It’s always nice to have fans out there and it’s exciting, makes the game fun.”

For the second consecutive night, runs were scored in the 1st inning, but it was the Cubs (22-16) who got on the board first as Andrew Ely singled and then scored on a Jimenez home run.

Omar Estevez pulled a run back in the bottom half of the inning when he scored from first base on a single by Logan Landon.

It was in the 4th inning when Jimenez continued his hot stretch against Great Lakes, launching his second home run of the game. In the three-game series, the outfielder went 7-for-12 and pushed his batting average to .326 on the season.

After South Bend starter Kyle Twomey exited the game, it was against reliever Casey Bloomquist (BS, 1; L, 2-1) when Green broke the tie with his two-run long ball to make it 4-3 in favor of the Loons. Brendon Davis added an insurance run in the 8th when he scored after tripling off the wall in left field.

South Bend opens a series at Lake County Friday.