Gems dig seven-run hole, can’t climb out

ALTON, Ill. — The Quincy Gems trailed 8-1 after three innings and never recovered in an 11-6 loss to the Alton River Dragons on Friday night at Lloyd Hopkins Field in a Prospect League game.

Starting pitcher Matt Shover took the loss, allowing five hits, four walks and eight runs in three innings. 

Zach Carden had a two-run triple for the River Dragons in the second inning. Gabe Briones added a bases-clearing double. Boston Merila had a two-run double for Alton in the third inning.

Matt Schark hit his fourth home run of the season in the second inning. Jake Skrine hit a solo homer for the Gems in the seventh. Gino D’Alessio had a sacrifice fly and Nick Iannantone contributed an RBI single in the eighth. D’Alessio drove in a run on a fielder’s choice in the ninth, and Jackson Galloway added an RBI single. 

Schark, D’Alessio, Galloway and Dane Thomas each had two hits for the Gems, who are 4-10 and 4 1/2 games behind first-place Clinton in the West-Great River Division.