HOPE AND DESPAIR JACKSON SOLID IN SEASON DEBUT, BUT DODGERS LOSE AGAIN FLORIDA 5, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

MIAMI - The last time Dioner Navarro squatted behind the plate and peered out at Edwin Jackson, what he saw was a shadow of a prospect, a one-time pitching phenom whose scouting reports had long since caught up with him.

At an age in which he was barely old enough to buy alcohol, Jackson already looked suspiciously like a has- been, one who was routinely getting knocked around at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Shortly thereafter, Jackson was sent to Double-A Jacksonville (Fla.) to find himself. On Monday, more than two months after his demotion, the right-hander returned to the big leagues for the first time this season - and he found Navarro looking out at him again.

Navarro, who was recalled from Las Vegas three weeks ago, barely recognized Jackson.

``He looked way different,'' Navarro said, and he wasn't talking about Jackson's hair. ``He made a lot of quality pitches. He worked the zone really well, and when he fell behind hitters, he always battled back. I thought he had really good command of all his pitches.''

But the result for the Dodgers was another ho-hum loss, this one 5-2 to the Florida Marlins in front of 17,779 at Dolphins Stadium.

The result for Jackson was, well, another ho-hum loss, one in which he was pulled with two outs in the fifth inning after allowing three earned runs, walking five batters and throwing 107 pitches on a typically sultry, 92-degree afternoon in South Florida.

When placed in the context of what has been a roller-coaster professional career for a former sixth-round draft choice who remains arguably the top pitching prospect in the organization, it was a giant leap forward.

With plenty of room left for more leaping.

``I only lasted four and two-thirds, so that could have been better,'' Jackson said. ``But I just wanted to go out and battle and keep the team close.''

He could have used some help in that effort, but it wasn't always there. With the Dodgers nursing a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth and Carlos Delgado leading off, third baseman Antonio Perez went up the line in foul territory chasing a popfly. Perez, who isn't especially good at his natural position, second base, and is pretty much a disaster everywhere else, never came close to catching it, and it fell two feet to his left. Delgado then singled to start a decisive two-run inning for the Marlins.

With six weeks remaining in a season that is quickly becoming more about the future than the present, Jackson's performance was more of a positive than the box score will reflect.

``A lot of things were better than the last time we saw him (in spring training),'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``He probably wasn't totally satisfied with himself, but ... he had consistency in his delivery, and he had consistency of his stuff as the result of (that). His (best) changeup was much, much better, his (best) breakingball was much better, and he had an idea of how to be a pitcher.''

Jackson was recalled to take the roster spot of left-hander Odalis Perez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique. Jackson likely will continue to fill Perez's spot in the rotation at least until Perez returns, especially considering the Dodgers don't have an off day until Sept. 1 and that there isn't a viable alternative on the current roster.

Manager Jim Tracy was noncommittal.

``We'll talk about it more (today),'' Tracy said.

The Dodgers (56-68), who are convinced their heads are still above water in the kiddie pool-shallow National League West, went 3-4 on the trip, losing three of four to the Marlins. Remove the lone victory, an 11-run explosion Saturday night, and the Dodgers scored a total of three runs in the other three games against Florida. Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis (17-8), who matched St. Louis' Chris Carpenter for the major-league lead in wins, was less than spectacular, just as he was when the Dodgers beat him on May 17. This time he was good enough, holding them to two runs on five hits before leaving after five innings and 105 pitches.

Alas, the Dodgers apparently didn't realize Willis was gone. Marlins relievers Antonio Alfonseca, Guillermo Mota and Todd Jones (28th save) retired 12 of 13 over the final four innings.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Damion Easley eludes the tag of Dodgers catcher Dioner Navarro to score on Carlos Delgado's single in the seventh inning of the Marlins' victory.

(2 -- color) Dodgers catcher Dioner Navarro, left, counsels starting pitcher Edwin Jackson in the fifth inning.

(3) Florida's Dontrelle Willis limits the Dodgers to five hits and two runs en route to his 17th victory.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Box:

(1) DODGERS vs. COLORADO

- Tony Jackson

(2) GAME RECAP

(3) HOW THE RUNS SCORED

(4) ALMANAC