By Mike Monaco

DAYTON, Ohio — Buoyed by seven strong innings from starter Zach Hedges, two RBI from left fielder Ian Happ and a grand slam by David Bote, South Bend downed Dayton, 7-2, in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field.

The Cubs (18-19 second half, 47-57 overall) dropped Friday’s opener but bounced back Saturday with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory before taking down the Dragons (17-20 second half, 56-51 overall) again in the finale — the conclusion of a nine-game road trip.

A pitchers’ duel between Hedges and Dayton righty Wyatt Strahan changed course in the sixth when each team plated two runs. South Bend nabbed the go-ahead run in the seventh, and Bote clobbered a grand slam — the team’s first this season — in the eighth to cement the win.

Hedges worked seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. After a single and an error to begin the bottom of the first, the righty retired the next nine batters he faced. In total, Hedges set down 14 consecutive Dragons before Dayton shortstop Luis Gonzalez lifted a two-out double into left-center field in the fifth.

Happ (2-for-5) drove in two runs, and right fielder Jeffrey Baez (2-for-5, one run, one double, one RBI) notched another multi-hit game. Bote provided extra insurance with one swing with two outs in the eighth.

Strahan fanned nine in seven innings, surrendering three runs on eight hits and no walks.

South Bend catcher Gioskar Amaya collected the team’s first hit with a single pulled through the left side in the fourth.

With runners at second and third and one out in the top of the sixth, Happ supplied a two-run single to right field to put South Bend ahead 2-0. Happ, who was Chicago’s first-round draft pick in June, recorded his first RBI since joining South Bend on July 25.

The Dragons trimmed the gap to 2-1 in the home half of the sixth when center fielder Narciso Crook slapped a two-out RBI single to right field, scoring second baseman Cory Thompson. Crook later scored on an RBI base knock by designated hitter Argenis Aldazoro, tying the game, 2-2.

With two outs and nobody on in the seventh, South Bend center fielder Rashad Crawford blooped a double down the left-field line. Baez then sliced an RBI double into right-center, sending South Bend back ahead 3-2.

The Cubs loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, and Bote drilled his fourth home run of the season.

With its nine-game road trip finished, South Bend enjoys a day off Monday and will host Kane County on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field.