Jackson falls apart in eighth inning

Monday, June 13, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

TACOMA, Wash. -- Cha Seung Baek pitched six shutout innings and the Tacoma Rainiers scored all of their runs in the eighth for a 6-1 victory against Las Vegas in front of a Sunday crowd of 7,331 at Cheney Stadium.

Baek struck out a season-high eight while lowering his ERA to 3.26. He allowed three hits and two walks. Jeff Harris (2-0) replaced him in the seventh and gave up a solo homer to Dioner Navarro that gave Las Vegas a 1-0 lead.

Elmer Dessens pitched four shutout innings in a rehab start for the 51s.

Dessens, who has been on the disabled list since April 24 because of a bone spur in his pitching shoulder, retired the first eight batters he faced before Hunter Brown doubled with two outs in the third inning. That was the only base runner allowed by Dessens, who struck out five in what may be his last start for the 51s before rejoining the Dodgers.

Edwin Jackson replaced Dessens and threw three shutout innings before a disastrous eighth in which the Rainiers sent 12 batters to the plate. The first six batters reached, with the tying run coming in on a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Christianson. Miguel Olivo gave Tacoma the lead with a run-scoring single and Jackson walked Abraham Nunez to force in another run before Mike Neu came on to pitch.

Neu didn't fare much better, walking Aaron Rifkin to force in the fourth run and giving up a double to Brown to bring in the last two Tacoma runs. Jackson, who has been regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, permitted five hits and walked seven as his ERA swelled to 8.62.