Griffin Jax throws 7 shutout innings in debut as Kernels top Clinton, 3-0

CLINTON — Griffin Jax threw seven shutout innings in his debut as the Cedar Rapids Kernels blanked Clinton, 3-0, Sunday afternoon in Midwest League baseball at Ashford University Stadium.

Jax joined the Kernels from Rookie-level Elizabethton on Saturday. He was a third-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins last season from the Air Force Academy and is only pitching on a 60-day leave before being assigned to a commissioned job at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

The right-hander allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out four. Logan Lombana and Hector Lujan finished up, with Lujan notching his seventh save.

The Kernels (44-37, 5-6 in the second half) scored single runs in each of the first three innings. Travis Blankenhorn doubled and scored on a Lewin Diaz single in the first, Andre Jernigan walked and scored on a Lean Marrero double in the second, and Aaron Whitefield homered in the third.

It was Whitefield's ninth home run of the season. The teams play again Monday night at 6:35.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com