Edwin Jackson did his best on the mound, recovering from a steady Fresno offense to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. And he did his best at the plate, getting two hits in a six-run third inning for the 51s.
But the hits were too little and the sixth inning was too late, as the Grizzlies had already scored five runs off the Dodgers' pitching prospect en route to an 8-7 victory against Las Vegas before an announced crowd of 3,082 at Cashman Field Wednesday.
The Grizzlies appeared all but out of the game after that third-inning 51s' run, led off by a single by Jackson, who later scored. Later in the inning, Jackson had an RBI single before Nick Theodorou grounded out to third to close the inning with the 51s leading 7-2.
But Fresno and pitcher Jerome Williams recovered, slowly chipping away at Las Vegas' lead while shutting out the 51s for the rest of the game. Williams finished with eight hits and seven runs in five innings -- he gave up five hits in addition to the six runs in the third.
"We got to try to keep them where they're at and keep chipping away," Fresno manager Shane Turner said. "I think the key too was Jerome coming back after that inning and putting up two zeroes. He kept his head up and gave us a chance to win the ballgame."
Jackson said the Grizzlies made key adjustments to his pitching from the last time he pitched against them, five nights before in Fresno.
But he also said he was focused on closing things out right after three one-run innings and a two-run fifth.
"The hardest thing to do was to come out the last inning and put up a zero," Jackson said. "I had already given up five runs after a lead. I felt it was important to come out and try to put up a zero in that last inning instead of going out and giving up another two runs."
Jackson finished having given up eight hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
"I want him to dominate," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "He's down here getting his work, and that's exactly what he got to day. We need to have a few fewer runs. When your team gets seven you don't give up five.
"They hit homers. These guys hit homers. They got base hits. Their guy got a base hit with two outs and a runner at second and the guy scored. That's what I like in minor league baseball, guys creating opportunities and taking advantage of them."
One of those homers came from Fresno slugger Todd Linden, whose seventh-inning shot went straight over the 20-foot-high center field wall at Cashman Field, 433 feet from home plate.
"The ball he hit to center field was crushed," Turner said. "We all know he's got a world of ability. It's a big year for him. So far he's done some good things. Hopefully he'll finish it in the big leagues."
Linden's home run brought the Grizzlies to within one, and Tony Torcato tied the game later in the seventh.
Fresno had runners on first and second in the ninth inning with two out, and Jamie Athas' base hit to left drove in Mike Cervanek from second to give the Grizzlies the win. Tom Farmer took the loss for the 51s.
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