Jackson

BOSTON — Left-handed pitcher Zach Jackson received a late birthday present Friday.

The Seneca Valley graduate, who turned 25 Tuesday, was called up to the Milwaukee Brewers from Class AAANashville as part of a bullpen shakeup.

Jackson joins right-hander Mark DiFelice in being promoted while Milwaukee placed right-handed reliever David Riske on the disabled list and sent struggling left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter, who has been experiencing control problems, to Nashville.

"Zach has been doing a fairly good job of getting lefties out down there in a relief role,"Brewers manager Ned Yost said on the team's Web site. "We'll kind of play it by ear. He's not as funky as Mitch, but he should throw more strikes."

Despite repeated flight problems, Jackson arrived in Boston by late afternoon Friday. The Brewers were scheduled to open a weekend interleague series with the Red Sox Friday night, but the game was rained out.

The teams were scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

Had Jackson taken the mound Friday, he would have done so with equipment borrowed from teammates. His luggage did not arrive by the time he got to Fenway Park.

"I'm here. That's all that matters,"Jackson said on the Web site. "There's no such thing as a bad trip (to the majors)."

Jackson was 11-10 with a 4.46 earned run average in 28 starts with Nashville last season. He began this season as a starter for the Sounds, but was 1-3 with an 8.89 ERAin his first five starts.

That prompted a trip to the bullpen, where Jackson's been ever since. In five relief appearances, he has a 2.92 ERAwith seven strikeouts and three walks in 12Z\c innings.

The Brewers plan to use Jackson as a second left-handed relief specialist behind Brian Shouse.

Milwaukee enters play Saturday with a 20-21 record this season. Jackson had a brief stint with the Brewers in 2006, putting together a 2-2 record with a 5.40 ERA.

The Brewers begin a three-game series against the Pirates at PNCPark Tuesday night.