JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s youthful lineup made life difficult for Clayton Kershaw. Unfortunately for the Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a much better day against Edwin Jackson.
Jackson struggled in his return from the disabled list, and the Cubs lost 14-5 to the NL West-leading Dodgers on Friday.
“You can see why (the Dodgers) are such a good club,” Chicago manager Rick Renteria said.
Jackson (6-15) recorded just two outs in his first appearance since he was shelved last month by a right lat strain. He was charged with four hits and five runs in his fourth consecutive loss.
“I felt good. It was just a matter of putting people away,” Jackson said. “I had three ABs with two strikes on hitters and wasn’t able to put them away.”
Renteria was noncommittal when asked about the plans for Jackson for the rest of the season.
“I haven’t had a conversation with anyone yet,” he said.
Kershaw pitched five shaky innings to become the majors’ first 20-game winner, and A.J. Ellis hit a pair of two-run homers. Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig each had a three-run shot for the Dodgers.
Kershaw (20-3) struck out nine in his shortest start in 3 1/2 months. He allowed three runs — all in the first — and seven hits in his sixth consecutive win.
“It was a battle. It was just hard today,” he said. “I don’t know why. It’s a good team. They put really good at-bats on me all day. I know it’s a bunch of young guys but I don’t think I had an easy out the whole day.”
Los Angeles batted around while scoring six times in its biggest first inning of the season. Kemp’s drive to left was his sixth homer this month and No. 22 on the year. Juan Uribe then chased Jackson with an RBI single before Ellis went deep for his second homer of the season.
Ellis connected against Eric Jokisch again in the third for his second career multihomer game. He also had two homers against the Cubs in a 6-1 victory in Los Angeles on Aug. 3, 2012.
“He always gives you good at-bats, but you’re starting to see the hits come along, too,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
Anthony Rizzo had an RBI double in the first, and the last-place Cubs added two more in the ninth. But that was it for Chicago in its second straight loss after a three-game sweep of Cincinnati.
WELCOME TO THE MAJORS
Rafael Lopez, who replaced Cubs catcher Welington Castillo when he left with an injury in the first inning, singled in the fifth for his first major league hit. He also had a sacrifice fly for his first RBI. “It was a great experience, something I’ll remember for a long time,” he said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder inflammation) said he is feeling a lot better and hopes to begin a throwing program this weekend. The 27-year-old left-hander was removed from his start last Friday at San Francisco after just one inning, and then got a cortisone shot on Monday.
Cubs: Castillo was hit by a foul ball and departed with a left rib contusion. The team said he was taken to a hospital for tests.
UP NEXT
Dodgers RHP Roberto Hernandez (8-11, 4.06 ERA) takes on LHP Felix Doubront (2-1, 1.50 ERA) on Saturday afternoon. Hernandez, who was acquired last month in a trade with Philadelphia, is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts this year against Chicago. Doubront pitched six scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory at Pittsburgh in his previous start last Saturday.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
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