By MIKE MONACO

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — South Bend starter Jeremy Null worked 5.2 shutout innings, and shortstop Gleyber Torres mashed a two-run triple in the eighth inning to propel the Cubs to a 2-0 win over West Michigan on Wednesday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Null turned in another outstanding start in his fourth outing of the season, throwing 5.2 shutout frames with six strikeouts and no walks. Through 22.2 innings pitched this season, Null has posted a 0.79 ERA and still hasn’t issued a free pass.

West Michigan starting pitcher Jeff Thompson matched Null zero for zero on the other side, spinning six shutout innings of two-hit ball.

The pitchers’ duel continued through seven innings, and the game remained scoreless into the eighth. But Torres climbed into the right-handed batter’s box with two outs and runners at first and second in the eighth. The 18-year old shot a rising line drive over right fielder Ross Kivett’s head and to the wall to plate both David Bote and Charcer Burks and hand South Bend (10-10) a 2-0 margin.

Cubs relievers James Farris (2.1 IP, one hit, no runs, two strikeouts) and Jordan Minch (1.0 IP, save) closed out the victory.

The Cubs placed runners at the corners with one out in the top of the first inning, but Thompson tallied back-to-back strikeouts to escape the early trouble.

Null worked a dynamite first inning to begin his afternoon. On just 11 pitches (nine strikes), Null struck out the side with three backwards Ks. In total, the righty retired the first five batters he faced with four punchouts.

Null veered back on track after allowing a two-out single in the second and needed just 43 pitches to finish four innings. The Whitecaps (9-11) cracked three singles in the fifth, however, and loaded the bases loaded. With two outs, Whitecaps top prospect Derek Hill — the 23rd overall pick by Detroit this past summer — clobbered a deep fly ball to center field, but Cubs center fielder Rashad Crawford made a sliding catch on the warning track to keep it scoreless.

West Michigan stormed right back with two singles to start the sixth, but Null fanned two with runners at second and third before Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez turned to right-handed reliever James Farris out of the South Bend bullpen to grab the final out and maintain the scoreless game.

After Torres broke the tie in eighth, Farris worked a scoreless eighth and Minch earned his first save of the season for his work in the ninth.

South Bend and West Michigan wrap up their three-game series Thursday at noon ET at Fifth Third Ballpark. Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (2-0, 1.80 ERA) is scheduled to get the ball opposite Whitecaps right-hander Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 2.70 ERA).