GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (44-71) at TEXAS (50-65)

Jackson brilliant as Devil Rays shut out Rangers

<h3>TAMPA BAY 3, TEXAS 0</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays finallysaw what all the fuss was about.


Edwin Jackson tossed a four-hitter for his first career shutoutas the Devil Rays posted a 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers onSaturday.


Displaying a fastball that hit 99 miles per hour in the ninthinning, Jackson struck out eight with just one walk in hisfirst career complete game and the first shutout of the seasonfor the Devil Rays.


"When he gets deep into the game, he really gets aggressive andthrows the ball well which he did tonight," Devil Rays managerJoe Maddon said. "I like when a guy smells it like that."

The 23-year-old Jackson (3-11) entered with the second-highestERA in the American League among starting pitchers with 20starts at 6.35, trailing only Chicago's Jose Contreras (6.49).But he looked more like the 19-year-old phenom who became theyoungest Los Angeles Dodger to win his first start in 2003before struggling for most of the next four seasons.

"The whole situation could have been a lot different right now.I could have been in the bullpen right now," Jackson said."But, I've come out in the second half and shown that I won'tgive them a chance to put me in the pen."


The righthander retired the first 10 batters he faced beforeBrad Wilkerson doubled in the fourth inning. Jackson alsosurrendered a double by Donnie Murphy and singles by MichaelYoung and Gerald Laird.


Jackson threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes, and did not need morethan 15 in any frame.


Texas starter John Rheinecker (1-1), who entered with a 14.63ERA in the first two innings this season, again struggled earlySaturday. Red-hot Carl Crawford sparked a first-inning rallywhen he lined a single to right field with one out and scored ona two-out line double to right by Delmon Young for a quick 1-0lead.


Crawford entered the contest 20-for-35 in his previous sevengames, setting a club record for most hits in that span. Withan eighth-inning triple, Crawford broke his own team record withhis eighth straight consecutive multi-hit game.


"It might mean something if we were in a pennant race," Crawfordsaid of his hot streak. "Right now, they're just numbers.Hitting streaks are good, but without the wins, they're justnumbers."


The Devil Rays doubled their advantage in the second, when GregNorton followed a single by Josh Wilson with an RBI double toleft.


Rheinecker settled down nicely thereafter, retiring 13 straighthitters until Delmon Young blooped a double down the right fieldline, just out of the reach of a diving Nelson Cruz. BrendanHarris then lined a single to right, and Delmon Young's slidejust beat a perfect throw by Cruz.


Rheinecker allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

"He's a warrior," Rangers manager Ron Washington said ofRheinecker. "He can pitch up here. He goes out there and younever see him give in."