After shattering Ian Kinsler's bat with his second pitch of the game, Edwin Jackson allowed a single, a double, a four-pitch walk, and another walk before retiring the Rangers in the bottom of the first. He threw 25 pitches, and at no point did he look especially effective. Tony La Russa didn't use Jake Westbrook last night, and he was probably thinking of the possibility of an Edwin meltdown.
World Series Game 4: Edwin Jackson Makes It Through Five
But Jackson did more than wriggle out of a tough first inning -- he gave the Cards five quality innings. Well, quality is in the eye of the beholder, but he did allow just the one run. He ended up walking five. I’m assuming he’s coming out of the game because the #9 spot’s coming up, and he’ll probably get pulled for a pinch-hitter.
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A “designated” hitter? Since when? How strange. But even though it’s not official just yet, Jackson isn’t going to be in this game for much longer. Considering how La Russa has managed his bullpen this postseason, I’d be stunned if Jackson came out for the sixth.
As far as #4 starters go, his line tonight is perfectly acceptable in a big picture kind of way. Here's one of Jackson's three strikeouts on the night, this one against Josh Hamilton:
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