Cubs’ Edwin Jackson struggles in series finale loss

Starter Edwin Jackson was roughed up for five runs in just 4 2/3 innings of work Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs dropped the series finale to the Milwaukee Brewers by a 6-2 final.

Milwaukee scored twice in the top of the first against the veteran right-hander and never looked back. The scoring opened with a two-run double off the bat of Scooter Gennett and outfielder Khris Davis followed with a solo shot in the top of the third to push the Brewers’ early advantage to 3-0.

Jackson (6-13, 5.74 ERA) racked up 93 pitches in the short outing, allowing seven base hits and walking three. Jacob Turner made his Cubs debut in relief of Jackson, tossing 2 1/3 perfect innings. Kyuji Fujisawa allowed one run in a lone inning of relief with Carlos Villanueva finishing things out in the ninth for Ricky Renteria.

In the top of the fourth, Milwaukee added two more runs. Elian Herrera tripled to right, scoring Lyle Overbay. Carlos Gomez then added a single of his own to score Herrera and put the Cubs in a 5-0 hole.

Chicago (52-68) finally broke through in the scoring column in the bottom of the seventh when Chris Valaika hit a two-run single off Milwaukee reliever Zach Duke. Duke came on in relief of Milwaukee starter Mike Fiers (2-1, 1.29 ERA), who tossed six scoreless frames of three-hit ball. He struck out 14 Chicago hitters – accounting for most of the team’s 16 punchiest in the finale.

Mark Reynolds added a solo home run in the top of the eighth for Milwaukee (67-55), his second home run in the series and 21st of the season.

Anthony Rizzo added two hits in the loss – the only Chicago player to manage more than one base hit. Highly regarded prospect Javier Baez struck out four times, going hitless.