ST. PETERSBURG -- After a late-night flight from Omaha was delayed several hours during a stop in Atlanta, Austin Jackson rejoined the Mariners on Tuesday and was immediately inserted as the starting center fielder by manager Lloyd McClendon.
Jackson wasted no time making an impact. He lined a single up the middle off Rays starter Alex Colome to lead off the game, stole second and advanced to third on an error, and scored on a single by Seth Smith.
Jackson, who had been rehabbing with Triple-A Tacoma in Nebraska when he got the call, said that his sprained right ankle is fully healed and that he's ready to roll atop the batting order.