Griffin Jax Effort On Mound Gives Blue Wahoos Series Win

His teammates had just scored a pair of early-game runs Saturday night on a pair of Biloxi miscues when Blue Wahoos pitcher Griffin Jax faced a defining moment.
Third inning. Bases loaded. None out. The middle of the Biloxi Shuckers batting order waiting in succession.
Jax fell behind 3-0 on cleanup hitter Dillon Thomas, before getting him to hit into a force out at home plate. Two more ground ball outs ensued, scoring a run, but keeping a lead the Blue Wahoos turned into a 5-1 win to take the series and delight an overflow, sellout crowd (5,038) on a festive night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
"That was big. That completely changed the game right there," said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. "(Jax) just found a way. He controlled that situation really well."
Jax (3-2), who allowed just four hits in six innings, continued to control an impressive progression. Since missing 24 days from mid-May between starts, the Air Force Academy graduate and second lieutenant shined again. He has allowed just three runs in the past four starts, lowering his earned run average to just 1.57.
He did it Saturday while assessing his performance had flaws.
"I actually didn't feel like I had my best stuff," said Jax, who earned his first win since May 5, also against Biloxi. "Coming off my last start… I felt pretty solid there… and I wanted to just keep things rolling.
"I fell behind in some counts and walked a few more guys than I would have liked to, but at the end of the day we got the win."
This win enabled the Blue Wahoos to end their season series against Biloxi in an upbeat way.
In winning the series 3-2, the Blue Wahoos won three of the four matchups, but the Jumbo Shrimp have the upper hand for the year (11-9), after the five-game sweep in Biloxi before the Southern League All-Star Game.
Jax, 24, who is seeking to become the first Air Force Academy graduate to ever reach the major leagues, missed a month of playing time due to injury. In his absence, the Blue Wahoos struggled to find the right starting rotation.
"That was real big for us.. that was a tough loss," Borrego said. "Now we have him back and it's great. He is a really hard worker."
Saturday, the Blue Wahoos took advantage of some miscues by Biloxi pitcher Bowden Francis and catcher Joantgel Segovia to score two runs in the second inning.
Jimmy Kerrigan led off with a single and Aaron Whitefield singled with one out. A wild pitch enabled both runners to move into scoring position.
A passed ball by on Segovia with two outs allowed Kerrigan to score. Whitefield then scored from third when Segovia tossed a ball back to Francis after a pitch and it deflected into the infield.
In the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos opened the lead after Kerrigan doubled, then Whitefield hit a sacrifice fly to score Kerrigan. Joe Cronin's double scored Whitefield with the second run.
"Our team is young. We're a little more inexperienced than earlier this year, because we lost some veteran guys," Jax said. "So every day is a learning experience for this team I think.
"It's just getting as many games in as possible and get these guys the exposure they need at this level."
Jax showed his experience working out of the third inning when it could have gone the other way.
"If that inning had tumbled downhill, and I give up more runs and face a few more batters, I may have not been able to complete six innings," Jax said. "So it was important for me to step on the brake and make sure those guys didn't get any more runs across the plate."
In the seventh, the Blue Wahoos turned to reliever Anthony Vizcaya, who earned his second save by pitching three shutout innings and allowing only one hit.
All this production occurred on a night when the Blue Wahoos had a lot happening away from the game. There was post-game fireworks, a Home Run For Life featuring a 6-year-old girl, theme elements from the "Ghostbusters," a sleepover by 200 Boy Scouts on the field.
"It is always a pleasure to have a lot of people in the stands. And they feel better when you win," Borrego said. "That was a beautiful game we played."
BALLPARK MEMORIES
Special moment after the bottom of the fifth inning was completed. River Miller, a 6-year-old girl, who battled through a variety of health issues, circled the bases to celebrate her recovery.
Game sponsor Pen-Air Federal Credit Union provided the post-game fireworks show. Pen Air CEO Stu Ramsey was among several guests throwing out a first pitch.
The Century 12-under youth league baseball team and Century 14-under Blackcats softball team attended the game.
There was a Gender Reveal event during pregame with the expecting mother throwing a softball size powder-filled ball that her husband connected and sent pink powder into the air to reveal a girl.
Executive chef Travis Wilson and Blue Wahoos Concessions unveiled the new concession item, "Crabzilla," a variety of fried seafood on a platter designed for two or more people and priced at $25. There was also a Crabzilla eating contest prior to the game.
Twelve area Boy Scouts troops, which included 100 Scouts and their parents in a 200-plus group, attended. The Boy Scouts had a sleepover at the stadium following the game and viewing of the movie, "Sandlot" on the video board.