Tyler Payne was 4-4 to help South Bend to a 7-4 win over Lake County Friday night. (Photo by Emma Reese)

SOUTH BEND –  After falling behind the Lake County Captains early on Friday night, the South Bend Cubs clawed back to win their eighth game in a row in a 7-4 final. South Bend’s victory was highlighted by four hits from catcher Tyler Payne, who wasn’t even supposed to be playing today.

In the process the Cubs (72-58, 33-28) gained a game on Bowling Green, who lost to West Michigan, 3-1. South Bend is now three games behind the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the Eastern Division wildcard race, with nine games left to play.

The Captains (51-79, 24-37) sailed to a quick lead thanks to a lead-off homerun by shortstop Luke Wakamatsu. Lake County put their second run on the board in the next inning. Left fielder Conner Capel started the inning with a fly-ball triple to right field, and scored on a wild pitch by South Bend starting pitcher Bryan Hudson (W, 8-3).

The Captains continued the pattern, adding their third run in the third inning. The lead-off batter, Wakamatsu was hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a ground-out by third baseman Alexis Pantoja. Right fielder Mitch Longo sent a ground ball to left field for a single, moving Wakamatsu to third. With Longo running on the pitch, designated hitter Li-Jen Chu hit an apparent double-play ball to Cubs third baseman Andruw Monasterio. However, Longo beat Monasterio’s throw to second, allowing Wakamatsu to score on the play, as Chu was retired.

The Cubs put themselves on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Payne, who had replaced an injured Alberto Mineo at catcher in the top half of the inning, led off with a line drive single to right. He advanced to second when a balk was called on Captains pitcher Luis Jimenez. After a ground-out by right fielder Luis Ayala moved Payne to third, he scored on a wild pitch by Jimenez.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, South Bend put up three runs to take the lead. Center fielder D.J. Wilson led off with a single to left field. He moved up to second when Jimenez put left fielder Kevonte Mitchell on base with a hit-by-pitch. Both Wilson and Mitchell scored on a fortuitous hit by Payne. When Lake County center fielder Gabriel Mejia didn’t see Payne’s flyball, it dropped in for a two-RBI single.

Lake County answered back in the top of the fifth. Mejia started the action with a lead-off walk. With Mejia taking his lead at first, Hudson threw over in an attempt to pick off Mejia. However, Hudson’s throw was a little up the line, allowing Mejia to advance to second on the throwing error. Mejia later took third base on a delayed steal. Then, with the infield playing in, Mejia scored on a single up the middle by Pantoja, tying the score.

South Bend reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Facing Lake County relief pitcher Ryan Colegate (L, 2-2), designated hitter Chris Pieters sent a flyball to deep left field. After left fielder Capel overran the ball, it landed in for a Pieters triple. With the Captains infield playing in, Payne followed with a line drive single past shortstop Wakamatsu, to score Pieters. Despite solid infield play by Lake County which put out two South Bend baserunners, Colgate hit Monasterio with a pitch to load the bases, and walked in Ayala for the insurance run.

The Cubs added to the lead in the bottom of the eighth. First baseman Austin Upshaw led off the inning with a single to right field. He moved up to second on Payne’s fourth single of the game, and scored on a fly ball single to right by Ayala.

Despite allowing a double to first baseman Jose Vicente and walking catcher Logan Ice, Manuel Rodriguez (S, 2) closed out the Captains in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save.