CHICAGO (AP) - Edwin Jackson registered his first quality start and worked into the seventh inning for the first time this season.
It still wasn’t enough for the Cubs.
Jackson allowed three runs in the first two innings and Chicago couldn’t erase the early deficit in a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
“Early in the game, it felt like I was rushing a little bit,” Jackson said. “It was one of those days when you feel like you don’t have your best stuff, so you try to make it happen. You just have to take a step back and slow the game down. I let it come to me, tried to go out and take it.”
After surrendering the early runs, Jackson (1-2) settled down and retired 17 of the final 18 batters. He allowed five hits in seven innings.
“He kept us in the ballgame,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, so he really had to work.”
Mike Bolsinger earned his first major league win, pitching into the seventh inning and hitting an RBI single to lead Arizona to a split of the four-game series after dropping the first two games.
Bolsinger (1-1) allowed one unearned run and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
“It was good to get the first win, but I think it was a lot better to get a big team win, especially two in a row now,” Bolsinger said. “Hopefully, that gets something started with this club, and we can keep it rolling.”
Miguel Montero drove in two runs, and the Diamondbacks won consecutive games for only the second time this season. Addison Reed got his fifth save in six chances with a perfect ninth.
After Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cubs got that run back right away in the bottom half. Leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio stretched a hit up the middle into a hustle double, which was reviewed when it appeared he was tagged out after he overslid the base. After a lengthy review, the call stood.
Following a walk, Bonifacio scored on Arizona left fielder Roger Kieschnick’s error on a line drive by Anthony Rizzo.
The Cubs went on to load the bases with one out on a walk, but Bolsinger struck out Mike Olt looking and got Welington Castillo to fly out.
Cliff Pennington walked in the Arizona second and scored on Tony Campana’s double for Arizona. Bolsinger singled for a 3-1 lead.
Despite throwing 40 pitches through two innings, Jackson posted his longest outing since Sept. 10. He walked two and struck out four.
’We know Edwin has a good arm,” Montero said. “I know for a fact. I’ve caught him. He’s got a great arm. He has a little bit of command issues, so I’m just looking to get in a good hitters count.
“Fortunately I had a couple of times I was in a good hitters count.”
Rizzo hit a solo home run in the eighth, his third of the season.
NOTES: Diamondbacks OF Mark Trumbo (stress fracture in left foot) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Kieschnick was recalled from Triple-A Reno. Kieschnick made his Diamondbacks debut Thursday, starting in left field and going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. … OF A.J. Pollock (neck stiffness) was not in the starting lineup for a fourth consecutive game. Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said he was much improved but not where they’d like him to be. … Cubs top pitching prospect RHP C.J. Edwards was in Chicago on Thursday to get his shoulder examined after he experienced fatigue in a bullpen session.
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