A Cruel Spring Ends for Jackson

When Edwin Jackson makes his season debut for the Dodgers -- be it in two weeks or two months -- he will not have to worry about suffering a letdown. His spring training was about as abysmal as exhibition seasons get.

Jackson finished the spring with a 1-3 record and a 9.28 earned-run average, highest among the starters, after getting shelled again during the Angels’ 10-4 Freeway Series victory Saturday before a sellout crowd of 43,281 at Angel Stadium. Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium had drawn 28,528.

The 20-year-old right-hander was optioned to triple-A Las Vegas after giving up six runs -- four earned -- over 2 2/3 innings as the Angels put their new scoreboards to good use with two runs in the second inning, four in the third, three in the seventh and one in the eighth. Barry Wesson hit a three-run homer and Troy Glaus hit a two-run double for the Angels, who had 11 hits off four Dodger pitchers.

Jackson, who struck out three and issued three walks, declined to comment afterward. Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, who had said Friday that Jackson would be his fifth starter, was unavailable for comment late Saturday night. The Dodgers do not need a fifth starter until April 17 because of off days, but it is unclear whether Jackson’s poor performance might prompt the Dodgers to leave him in Las Vegas beyond that date.

Angel starter Kelvim Escobar was not especially sharp either, allowing three runs in five innings. He escaped further damage in the fifth when home plate umpire Paul Emmel reversed himself after conferring with his colleagues, ruling what he had initially called a two-run home run by Shawn Green near the left-field foul pole to be a foul ball. Angel Manager Mike Scioscia had protested the initial call.

After being summoned back to the plate, Green struck out. The two-time All-Star, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery, has not homered this spring but did deliver a two-run double in the first and another double in the seventh.

Guillermo Mota, expected to be a key setup man for closer Eric Gagne, yielded Wesson’s homer in the seventh and has given up 10 runs in four spring innings. Gagne gave up hits to the first four Angels he faced in the eighth, but only one run scored.