Jackson takes A’s deeper in chase
OAKLAND >> If the A’s are going to cash in on this unlikely playoff run at the end of the season, a member of the starting rotation will have to step up and join Sean Manaea as a reliable option every fifth day.
Edwin Jackson could be turning into that guy.
As he’s done most of this season, Jackson looked like a rejuvenated pitcher as his mix of velocities kept the Detroit Tigers off balance in Saturday night’s 2-1 victory before 33,668 fans at the Coliseum. The win was Oakland’s fifth in a row and 11th consecutive against Detroit.
Basically signed off the street in June, Jackson is bringing stability to a rotation that has had any-
thing but with 12 different pitchers who have made a start at some point this year. The 16-year veteran, now on his 13th team, is providing more than just wisdom in the clubhouse, he’s pitching like a guy who would probably start the first game of a playoff series as things stand right now if the A’s (66-46) manage to keep their current playoff spot.
“It’s been welcome. I think he’s really comfortable here,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Jackson. “For a guy that’s been around as long as he has, he looks inspired to be in a playoff race like this and enjoys the group. I think that’s part of what you’re seeing out there. On top of that, he mixes his pitches pretty well. He and (Jonathan) Lucroy work really well. He’s been terrific.”
Throwing just 78 pitches in what was his most efficient outing of the season, Jackson got through 6 1/3 innings as he allowed just an unearned run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts. He could have easily gone longer, but with a rested dominant set-up man in Lou Trivino at his disposal, it was an easy call for Melvin after Jackson surrendered a single to Victor Martinez with one out in the seventh.
Jackson improved to 3-2 on the season, lowering his ERA to 2.87. He’s allowed
three runs or less in seven of his eight starts with the A’s.
More importantly for Jackson, he felt like he had returned to the form he was in for his first couple of starts with the A’s as opposed to his previous two starts where he wasn’t as sharp, including an outing in Texas in which he allowed five runs.
“I feel like this start was more like how I started out the season. The last couple I kind of reverted back to walking guys and getting behind in the count. This start was different,” Jackson said. “I was making them put the ball in play and let the defense work, which allows plays to get made behind you like tonight.”
It was a much quicker pace from the right-hander this time out. Saturday’s
game finished in just more than 2 hours and 30 minutes, and a lot of that had to do with Jackson’s ability to waste little time.
It’s the type of tempo that Matt Chapman appreciates on defense.
“He’s been getting the ball and getting right back on the mound,” Chapman said. “I think that’s nice to have for me personally when playing defense, a guy who gets after it and competes but also keeps the defense on their toes.”
Chapman and Khris Davis helped Jackson with some run support by homering in the third against Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann.
Chapman, who also extended his career-high onbase streak to 20 games, led
off the inning with a laser shot over the wall in center for his 14th of the season.
Two batters later, Davis joined some impressive company by blasting a solo shot to left field for his 30th, marking the third straight season in which he’s hit 30 home runs with the A’s. The last A’s player with three straight 30-plus homer seasons was Miguel Tejada from 2000-02.
“He’s a freak,” Chapman said of Davis. “I think people haven’t even seen what he’s fully capable of. I think he’s coming into his own right now in his prime years and is capable of doing even more.”
Continuing to hold the best record in baseball since June 16 — now at 32-10 — the A’s are 20 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 2, 2014, the last season they made the playoffs.
The A’s hold the fourthbest record in the majors, a 2 1/2-game lead over the Mariners for the second American League wild-card spot, and are even creeping up on the Yankees for the first wild card, now just 3 1/2 back.
“This team is something special,” Jackson said. “The clubhouse. The chemistry. It’s something you can’t teach. That has to happen on its own.”