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Jackson activated from DL, Garcia sent to Triple-A

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tigers activated center fielder Austin Jackson from the disabled list on Friday and optioned Avisail Garcia to Triple-A Toledo. Jackson started Friday and batted leadoff.

Jackson, who was sidelined due to a pulled left hamstring, hadn't seen action for the Tigers since May 11. Jackson played three games with Toledo as part of his rehab assignment, going 3-for-13 with an RBI, a walk and five strikeouts.

"He's back. He's playing. That's good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

In Jackson's absence, Garcia hit .288 and was on an eight-game hitting streak. Filling in for 24 games, Garcia had 19 hits in 66 plate appearances with 10 RBIs and four walks.

"He did well enough to stay up here, it's just that we don't have room for him right now unless you want to not play [Andy] Dirks, not play [Torii] Hunter or not play Jackson or somebody," Leyland said. "We're not going to sit him out there and let him sit there and wait for a left-hander, so that's just a common sense thing.

"I could keep him up here and sit him on the bench. That doesn't make much sense. This is a kid that needs to play. This is a kid that's got a high ceiling."

Kelly Erickson is an associate reporter for MLB.com
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