Jackson heats it up, shuts out Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Edwin Jackson was still throwing fastballs in the high 90s in the ninth inning as he defeated the Texas Rangers for his first career complete game.

Jackson pitched a four-hitter to send the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 3-0 victory over the Rangers in 96-degree heat Saturday night.

“When he gets deep into the game, he starts throwing the ball aggressively,” Devil Rays Manager Joe Maddon said. “He still had 99 [mph] in the tank. I like it when guys smell it like that.”

Jackson (3-11) struck out eight, walked one and allowed only one runner past second base in Tampa Bay’s first shutout of the season. Delmon Young doubled twice and scored for the Devil Rays, who had been the only major league team without a shutout.

Rangers Manager Ron Washington was impressed with Jackson’s stamina.

“As hot as it was, he was throwing 99 in the ninth,” Washington said. “He just overpowered us. He was on tonight. You look at his record and it didn’t look like he could throw that kind of game, but tonight he showed us what he had.”

Jackson, a former Dodger who started the night with a 6.35 earned-run average, retired the first 10 batters before Brad Wilkerson doubled. The right-hander threw 79 of his 110 pitches for strikes.