By Mike Monaco

EASTLAKE, Ohio – Right-hander Zach Hedges delivered another strong start, and Jason Vosler and Kevin Encarnacion rapped home runs, as South Bend started the second half with a 4-3 win over Lake County on Thursday night at Classic Park.

Hedges, fresh off seven innings of one-run ball against Dayton in his last outing, allowed two earned runs (three total) in 6.2 frames, adding six strikeouts while walking just one.

The Cubs (1-0 second half, 30-38 overall) have won three consecutive games.

South Bend left-handed reliever Jordan Minch held the lead after entering in the seventh and fanned three in a scoreless eighth. Cubs righty Brad Markey then collected his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth. Fellow reliever James Farris, who saved nine games in the first half, was promoted to High-A Myrtle Beach earlier Thursday.

Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres (2-for-4, one run, one triple) and Vosler (2-for-3, two RBI) helped power the offense.

Lake County grabbed a run in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on two South Bend errors. But the Cubs tied the game in the top of the second, as Vosler smacked his first home run of the season to knot the score, 1-1.

Cubs designated hitter Yasiel Balaguert floated an RBI double to right field in the fourth to score Torres, who roped a triple to start the frame, and make it 2-1 South Bend. Two batters later, Vosler reeled in Balaguert with an RBI single.

The Captains sliced into the deficit in the bottom of the fifth when center fielder Greg Allen laced an RBI single to pull Lake County within one, 3-2.

South Bend snatched the run back in the seventh when Encarnacion teed off on his second home run of the season — a blast to right field to lift the Cubs up 4-2.

But Allen added another RBI single in the seventh inning off of Minch, and the Captains climbed back within one, 4-3.

South Bend and Lake County meet Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio. Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton (4.88 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Captains righty Jordan Milbrath (6.20 ERA).