Padres rout Edwin Jackson, Cubs fall 11-1

reacts after allowing a home run by San Diego Padres catcher

during the second inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

One night after the Chicago Cubs featured strong pitching to get a series-opening 5-1 win, Edwin Jackson (3-4, 4.94) served up eight runs in four innings – including two home runs – and the Cubs (17-29) were stung 11-1 by the Padres (22-27) on Friday night at Petco Park.

Jackson faced seven batters in the first inning, four of which scored. After a two-run single by Seth Smith, Yonder Alonso hit his second home run of the season to make it 4-0.

The Padres continued to pour it on in the second, scoring runs on a solo home run by Yasmani Grandal and a two-run double by Chase Headley to make it 7-0. From there the Padres never looked back.

Tim Stauffer (2-0, 1.90) started for the Padres and went the requisite five innings to get the win. The Cubs got their lone run in the seventh on an RBI single from Welington Castillo to make it 8-1. The Padres added three more run in the seventh to round out the scoring.

Rarely in a blowout loss can a positive be found, but the work by Jose Veras tonight was a good sign for a reliever who has struggled mightily in 2014. Veras worked a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, striking out four and giving up only one hit. He lowered his ERA from 12.96 to 10.45.

Otherwise, it was a disaster for the Cubs.

Bud Black‘s Padre lineup had four hitters with a batting average under .200 to start the night, but the Padres outhit the Cubs 12-4 and were in control from the outset. It could have been worse for Chicago, but Carlos Villanueva saved the bullpen a lot of work last night. Rick Renteria had the innings available in the bullpen, and used every one of them. After Veras worked two innings, Wesley Wright pitched the final two innings while surrendering three runs.

The series will continue tomorrow evening in San Diego. Travis Wood (4-4, 4.61) takes the mound for the Cubs while Donn Roach (1-0, 3.60) will go for the Padres. First pitch is set for 9:10 CST and the game will be televised on WGN-TV, as well as broadcast on WGN AM 720.