Padres' Ross fans 11 in 13-3 rout of Cubs
By MATT CARLSON, Associated Press
Jul 24, 2014 11:02 PM CDT
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross delivers as the sun sets during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)   (Associated Press)

CHICAGO (AP) — Tyson Ross struck out a career-high 11, and the light-hitting San Diego Padres broke out for a season-best nine runs in the sixth inning in a 13-3 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

Ross (9-10) allowed one run, five hits and one walk in six innings to reach a career high in wins. He went 3-2 in five July starts, but gave up just four earned runs in 35 innings.

Rene Rivera had three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Will Venable had three hits and two RBIs, and Alexi Amarista and Chris Nelson also drove in two runs apiece with singles in the sixth-inning outburst that gave the Padres their highest scoring output this season.

San Diego led 3-1 entering the sixth, but after the first two Padres reached base, Cubs starter Edwin Jackson (5-11) was pulled because of cramping in his right hand and was replaced by Brian Schlitter.

The first nine Padres reached as San Diego, which carried an MLB-worst .215 batting average into the game, sent 15 men to the plate.

The Padres, who finished with 14 hits, used relievers Tim Stauffer and Nick Vincent to complete the game.

Starlin Castro, Luis Valbuena and Chris Coghlan drove in Chicago's runs.

Jackson dropped his fourth straight decision over six starts, allowing five runs and seven hits. He hasn't won since June 20 against Pittsburgh.

He was followed by five relievers as Chicago lost for the 13th time in 16 games.

The Padres tagged Jackson with two quick runs with two outs in the first.

The Cubs cut it to 2-1 in the fourth and had runners on second and third with two outs. But Ross fanned John Baker for his eighth strikeout to end the threat.

Rivera's solo shot to lead off the fifth made it 3-1.

National League home run leader Anthony Rizzo swung and missed a 3-2 pitch in the dirt with two out in the fifth to apparently end the inning. But the pitch got away from Rivera, and Rizzo reached first with Arismendy Alcantara taking third.

Padres manager Bud Black asked for a review, claiming the batted ball struck Rizzo, but the play was upheld.

NOTES: The Padres plan to recall RHP Jesse Hahn and start him in Atlanta on Friday against LHP Alex Wood (7-7). Hahn, 24, is 5-2 in seven starts with San Diego this year. ... Padres rookie Jake Goebbert, a former Northwestern University standout, started in left field after sitting out Wednesday. Goebbert's parents own a pumpkin farm in nearby Hampshire, Illinois, and he had a large group of friends and relatives in the stands. ... Cubs C Welington Castillo was rested after drawing boos during Wednesday's 8-3 loss when he didn't run out a comebacker to the pitcher. ... Cubs LHP Travis Wood (7-9,) will face St. Louis' RHP Joe Kelly (2-1) on Friday.

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