Dodgers defeat Cubs 11-3

Esteban Loaiza outpitched Carlos Zambrano in his Dodgers' debut, helping Los Angeles stay within four games of the NL West lead.

Loaiza allowed three runs in seven innings and James Loney backed him with three RBIs, leading the Dodgers over the Chicago Cubs 11-3 Monday.

Los Angeles is four games back of San Diego and three behind Arizona in the NL West.

NL Central-leading Chicago maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee and a two-game margin over St. Louis.

Loaiza (1-0) was claimed off waivers from Oakland on Wednesday, with the Dodgers assuming more than $8 million in guaranteed salary this year and next. He did not pitch this season until Aug. 22 due to a bulging disk in his neck, and the two-time All-Star was 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA in two starts with the Athletics.

Against the Cubs, he gave up nine hits, struck out three and walked one, throwing 96 pitches.

Zambrano (14-12) lost his fifth straight start, giving up eight runs for the first time since June 22, 2005, at Milwaukee. He lasted 4 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since he went four innings against Cincinnati on April 13.

Zambrano has a 9.56 ERA in three starts since the Cubs gave him a $91.5 million, five-year contract extension through 2012, and he is 0-5 with an 8.29 ERA in six starts since beating Cincinnati on July 29.