Control problems costly for Gems in road loss

NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy Gems led 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, but the Normal CornBelters used three hits and seven walks to plate seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win 8-4 in a Prospect League baseball game on Friday night at the Corn Crib.

Quincy broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with three runs. Andrew Fay and Matt Schark both  had RBI singles, and Fay later scored on an error.

Starter Brant Hogue went 6 ⅓ innings for the Gems, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out 14. However, reliever Jack Payne struggled to find the strike zone. He walked three batters in the seventh while also allowing an RBI triple by Drew Davis and a two-run single by Will Carpenter.

Payne’s struggles continued in the eighth. He walked four of the first five batters before he was removed with no outs by Fay. The CornBelters used two bases-loaded walks, a fielder’s choice and a single to plate four runs in the inning.

Schark and Carson Bither each had two hits for the Gems (1-1).