51s’ Jackson has nothing to say for himself

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

Maybe it was the seven-day layoff between starts, or maybe he was shaken when the Dodgers looked right past him and promoted pitcher Derek Thompson from Double-A for a couple of starts.

Maybe it was the catcher's interference call followed by two walks that kicked off a six-run fourth inning for Colorado Springs. Or maybe it was just a bad night. But whatever was bothering Edwin Jackson on Tuesday, his recent slump continued in a 10-hit, 11-run start in the 51s' 12-6 loss to Colorado Springs at Cashman Field.

"Those are the things you can't really explain," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "He was going good as he has all year for three innings and then he just couldn't do anything right."

For the second consecutive start, Jackson was nowhere to be seen in the 51s clubhouse after his game had ended and his ERA had swollen to 6.94.

The six-run fourth inning was followed by a five-run fifth by the Sky Sox, leaving Jackson with his worst outing of the season. He had four walks and no strikeouts.

"He's got to get streaky," Royster said. "He's got to put together a streak. There's a lot of confidence involved. I thought he did a real good job with his offspeed pitch today, his changeup especially. Then he gets hit."

Royster said Jackson was regularly registering 98 mph on the radar gun, even hitting 99 mph at least once.

"In the first couple of innings I don't think he threw anything but fastballs," Royster said. "And he was able to locate it. He lost it and he lost it quick and was never able to get it back -- and that's the part that bothers me... because I just saw him pitch three innings like I know he can."

Thompson's promotion was a surprise to few around Cashman Field on Tuesday, given that the Dodgers were looking for a left-hander and Thompson was also on the 40-man roster, unlike veteran 51s starters Pat Mahomes and Ryan Rupe.

Still, Royster said he doesn't think Jackson is far away from being able to help out the major league team, particularly if he's able to put together a string of good starts as Mahomes and Rupe have.

But he also warned that Thompson's promotion might be a sign of things to come for Jackson, at one time the Dodgers' top prospect.

"It wasn't fun for him to watch Thompson being called up," Royster said. "Guys are going by him. He's well aware of that. There's guys coming. We've got some good, good young pitching. He's got to figure that out. To me, it's taken too long."

The 51s will face Cimarron-Memorial graduate Mike Esposito at 7:05 tonight.

Also, outfielder Milton Bradley may go on the injured list soon.

Catcher Mike Nixon was promoted from Single-A Vero Beach, leaving the 51s with 24 players on the roster and three more suspended and coming back Saturday. Royster and the Dodgers will meet Thursday to determine what to do about the surplus of players on the 51s' roster.

If Carlyle is picked up by another team, Totten would probably start Saturday.