SAN FRANCISCO -- None of the nearly 20,000 men to have played Major League Baseball have carved out a career that can match that of Edwin Jackson.

Jackson established a big league record Wednesday by playing for his 14th team, breaking a tie with right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel. In his standard-setting effort, the 35-year-old right-hander performed as he has throughout most of his 17 seasons in the Majors as the Giants edged Jackson¡¯s Blue Jays, 4-3.

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Jackson wasn¡¯t dominant, but he was efficient. He wasn¡¯t flashy, but he was reliable. Jackson didn¡¯t win, but he helped the Blue Jays remain in a position to triumph for most of the afternoon at Oracle Park.

¡°He¡¯s going to give you all he¡¯s got every time he takes the mound, like he did today,¡± Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said.

Jackson worked five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits before leaving the game with the score tied, 3-3. Brandon Crawford¡¯s opposite-field homer off Ryan Tepera in the sixth inning ultimately hastened the Giants¡¯ victory.

Jackson¡¯s outing could have been considered a microcosm of his career. His impact upon the outcome wasn¡¯t definitive enough to make him a player that must be retained year to year. But Jackson certainly has been good enough to be considered an asset.

¡°It says I have a lot of perseverance,¡± said Jackson, who owns a 104-123 lifetime record with a 4.60 ERA. ¡°Some of those teams had situations which would make other people want to go home and quit and cry, but for me, it¡¯s like the tougher it gets, the harder I work.¡±

Jackson proved that against San Francisco, which went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and grounded into two double plays against him.

It¡¯s easy to speculate that Jackson might possess an abrasive attitude that causes friction with management, thus forcing him to find a new employer. His longest stints were with the Rays (2006-08) and the Cubs (2013-15).

Yet Jackson is widely respected within the baseball community.

¡°I feel like I don¡¯t have a bad rap on my head, [which] makes me feel even better,¡± said Jackson, an American League All-Star in 2009 with Detroit, and the author of a no-hitter for Arizona the following year.

¡°His reputation precedes him,¡± said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose judgment of character has been sharpened by 30 years of running professional ballclubs, including three World Series champions with San Francisco. ¡°All I hear is what a great guy and good teammate he is.¡±

For example, when he was asked to evaluate his pitching Wednesday, Jackson immediately focused not on himself but on catcher Luke Maile.

¡°First and foremost, Luke did a great job behind home plate,¡± Jackson said. ¡°Not having caught me before, sticking with me through situations, [despite] not necessarily knowing my repertoire.¡±

If nothing else, Jackson ought to have amassed an impressive array of memorabilia from his career.

¡°It¡¯s got to be pretty cool to have that many jerseys hanging in your trophy room,¡± Bochy said.