Jackson struck out looking in his first at-bat, but he connected for a solo blast to left field off Angels starter Matt Shoemaker in the third inning. He signed a Minor League contract in late January but was slowed as he rehabbed from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
"It was just nice to get them in the game and get them some at-bats," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Jackson and Jason Kipnis, who also debuted and went 1-for-3.
Tyler Naquin knocked his first homer in the seventh off Jose Valdez, and he is hitting .