By Mike Monaco

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – South Bend struck for a pair of two-out runs in the top of the sixth to vault past West Michigan, 4-2, in Monday night’s series opener at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The Cubs (29-27 second half, 58-65 overall), who began the night tied for third in the Eastern Division and five games behind the Whitecaps (33-23 second half, 66-59 overall) for second place, scored four unanswered runs after falling behind 2-0 in the first.

South Bend starter Erick Leal racked up seven strikeouts over five innings of two-run ball, scattering seven hits and walking two. In the bottom of the fifth, Whitecaps shortstop A.J. Simcox rocketed an infield single off Leal’s right leg. Designated hitter Mike Gerber then skied a ball to right field that Cubs right fielder Jeffrey Baez lost in the sky. Leal responded by striking out the next three batters he faced to keep it a 2-2 game.

Cubs designated hitter Kevin Encarnacion (3-for-4, one run, one RBI) led the South Bend offense.

South Bend right-hander Michael Wagner delivered four shutout innings in relief, giving up just two hits while fanning four.

With runners at the corners and two outs in the bottom of the first, West Michigan catcher Kade Scivicque broke for second, and Simcox scored from third on the double steal to make it 1-0. Second baseman Joey Pankake then added an RBI single to left field to push the advantage to 2-0.

In the top of the second, the Cubs put runners at first and second with nobody out. Encarnacion dropped down a bunt single, and Cubs second baseman David Bote scored on a throwing error by the Whitecaps, trimming the deficit to 2-1. South Bend then tied the game, 2-2, on a fielder’s choice by first baseman Matt Rose.

After Leal struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth, Bote began the road sixth with a double off the left-center field wall. Two batters later, Encarnacion supplied an RBI single to right field to give South Bend its first lead, 3-2. Encarnacion then scored when West Michigan right fielder Victor Padron dropped a fly ball that would have ended the inning.

South Bend and West Michigan meet Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Fifth Third Field in the middle matchup of the three-game series. Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton (4.34 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Whitecaps righty Artie Lewicki (3.38 ERA).