Edwin Jackson gives up 3 HRs in Padres' 5-1 loss to Cubs

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Edwin Jackson knows better but he couldn't do anything about it against the Chicago Cubs.

"You can't fall behind, especially against a team like this," he said. "It just wasn't a great job by me."

The Cubs hit Jackson (3-4) for three home runs en route to a 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

"The main thing with this lineup is you have to establish yourself in the strike zone early," said Jackson, a former Cub. "If you get behind to a team like this, you are going to put yourself in a place where you have to come over the plate."

The results were homers by Addison Russell, Kris Bryant and Jason Hayward.

"Ultimately, I paid for it," Jackson said.

Jackson gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked four, one intentionally, as he snapped a three-start winning streak.

The Padres, who have lost seven of nine, had only one runner reach third base in the opening five innings.

Bryant's solo shot in the fifth inning was his 32nd of the year, tying him with Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the National League lead.

Russell added his third home run in two days, and the struggling Heyward -- recently benched to rest mentally -- got his first since July 29. Anthony Rizzo had four hits.

Lester (14-4) limited the Padres to a run and five hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked two in winning for the 10th time in his last 11 decisions. The left-hander improved to 5-0 with six quality starts out of seven since the All-Star break.

"Game after game after game you kind of know what to expect from him right now," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He had really good stuff tonight."

The NL Central-leading Cubs have won six of their last eight games and 20 of 25.

Lester was lifted at 100 pitches after Alex Dickerson and Christian Bethancourt opened the seventh with singles.

"I just try to go pitch and do a good job," Lester said. "That's all I worry about. The main number for me that I'm always concerned about is 200 innings. If that's there, then all the other stuff is kind of gravy."

Justin Grimm, the first of three relievers, came on and allowed a run on a wild pitch when striking out Ryan Schimpf.

San Diego's only other threat was in the sixth, as Brett Wallace advanced to third on a one-out single and two-base error by Heyward in right when he overran the ball. But Lester struck out Travis Jankowski looking and, after a walk to Alexei Ramirez, struck out Wil Myers with a devastating curveball.

Chicago pulled away with a three-run fifth, which featured two home runs. Bryant led off with arching shot into the left-center field seats. After Rizzo's double, Heyward hit his long fly for a 5-0 advantage.

"(Jackson) wasn't that far off," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Other than the two pitches (to Russell and Heyward) he wasn't that bad. That is a tough lineup to navigate."

The Cubs forged ahead 2-0 in the third as Jackson struggled with his command. Rizzo singled in between walks to Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist. That set up Russell's sacrifice fly for his second RBI in two innings.

Russell slugged Jackson's 86-mph slider for a home run in the second, his third solo blast in two days for a 1-0 edge.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: OF Jabari Blash was placed on the disabled list with a sprained left finger.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (15-5, 2.75 ERA) prevailed in his last outing on Thursday against Arizona, but he wasn't sharp. Arrieta, who has nine road wins, had a career-high seven walks and allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-9, 4.69 ERA) looks to snap a three-start losing streak as he has dropped seven of his past nine outings. He was effective on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, working 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball.