Monday, June 14, 2004 | 9:01 a.m.
In May, the Las Vegas 51s struggled with pitching, losing close high-scoring games and tumbling into the basement of the Pacific Coast League.
This month, the 51s have gotten three new pitchers with major league experience and phenom Edwin Jackson has returned after picking up his third major league win in a spot start with the Dodgers.
But even with the addition of Brian Falkenborg, Giovanni Carrara and Rodney Myers, the 51s have lost six of their last eight games, in part because of an offense that has stalled.
The 51s have combined for 24 runs over their last seven games. On Sunday, they lost 5-3 to Edmonton.
Manager Terry Kennedy, speaking from his hotel in Alberta's capital, sounded frustrated at another tough stretch for his team.
"We should have won three of four games in Tacoma, but we didn't; we really won the only game we could here," he said, adding that "a missed play, an error, or a nonplay" has been costing his team critical runs at a time when the offense isn't able to match them.
Sunday, it was a slow roller to pitcher Eric Knott, which he dropped to allow two runs to score. Two days earlier, Sergio Garcia lost a pop-fly in the evening twilight that proved costly.
Kennedy pointed out that it's the offense that's costing the team games, not the pitching that has gotten help from Los Angeles.
"They're all throwing good, too ... but we don't have a very consistent offense. We've got to iron that out."
Jackson allowed three hits and one run -- a leadoff home run in the first inning -- in five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers en route to the victory.
After returning to Triple-A, he beat Tacoma 1-0 on June 7, throwing five innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts.
But any clamor to get Jackson back to the big leagues may have been quieted a bit Saturday after he gave up five hits and as many earned runs in four innings of a 7-5 loss to the Trappers.
Kennedy said he has heard nothing of Jackson's future since he returned back to the minors.
"He couldn't command the strike zone," Kennedy said. "He got behind and it cost him a few times. It's a learning experience for him.
"He was disappointed in his performance (Saturday), but we're a little more forgiving than he is because we understand where he is in his career."
The team won't take batting practice this afternoon because of the long travel day.
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