With handle on timing, Jackson in hitting groove

NEW YORK -- Austin Jackson credited an adjustment at the plate and better timing on his reaction to pitches for his recent hitting. Friday's 4-for-6, three-double performance was his third consecutive multihit effort.

He entered Saturday with eight hits over the past three days, six of them for extra bases. He has been pulling the ball into the gap in left-center field with more consistency, allowing him to take advantage of his speed.

"When your timing's off, everything's out of whack, really," Jackson said. "You're trying to fix other things and not seeing the ball as well, not on time for pitches -- you're up there guessing a lot instead of just being ready to hit."

The difference is big. Just a few days ago, manager Jim Leyland was talking about giving Jackson a game off and letting him take a rest and clear his head. That's not going to happen while he's hitting like this.

"He had a heckuva night, obviously," Leyland said.