Andrew Monasterio led the way to a Cubs 6-3 win over Lake County Monday night. (Photo by Emma Reese)

SOUTH BEND – Andruw Monasterio hit a leadoff homer and added a two-run triple in the fifth inning to lead the South Bend Cubs (35-29, 74-59) over the Lake County Captains (25-39, 52-81) 6-3 in front of a crowd of 3,486 on Monday night at Four Winds Field. The Cubs’ win, coupled with Bowling Green’s 3-1 loss at West Michigan, leaves South Bend just one game out of a playoff spot with six games left to play.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Monasterio got a hold of a pitch from Captains starter Micah Miniard (L, 4-13) and lifted it over the left field wall for his first homerun of the season and a 1-0 lead for South Bend.

The Cubs would add to their lead with another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. This time, it was centerfielder DJ Wilson who launched a Miniard offering to deep right for the Cubs’ second homer of the game and a 2-0 South Bend lead.

A four-run bottom of the fifth inning blew the game open and gave the Cubs a 6-0 lead. Catcher Jhonny Pereda walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a ground out. Second baseman Yeiler Peguero beat out an infield single to second to put runners at the corners with one out. Monasterio then ripped a triple to the right field wall to score both runners and make it a 4-0 game. Shortstop Aramis Ademan followed with a single to center that plated Monasterio. Ademan stole second and scored when Wilson doubled to right for his second extra-base hit of the game, knocking out Miniard and making the score 6-0.

Lake County, the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning. Third baseman Alexis Pantoja beat out an infield single to start the inning. Right fielder Mitch Longo walked and designated hitter Li-Jen Chu lined a single to center that scored Pantoja. The throw in from Wilson was wide of the catcher and the runners ended up at second and third on the play. That was the end of the day for Cubs starter Manuel Rondon (W, 14-6) as Mark Malave entered with two on and no outs.

After striking out the first batter he faced, Malave surrendered a double to Captains left fielder Connor Capel that cut the lead to 6-2. Catcher Logan Ice followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 6-3. Second baseman Miguel Eladio ended the inning when he lined a single off of the first baseman’s glove but Capel fell down trying to put on the brakes between third and home and was thrown out by Peguero.

The Cubs bullpen came on in relief of Rondon shut the door on the Captains over the last four innings. Malave got out of the top of the sixth and then struck out the side in the seventh inning. Wyatt Short (S, 15) replaced Malave to start the eighth and allowed just one walk.