Gems shut down by one of Prospect League’s top pitchers

PERU, Ill. — The Quincy Gems were no match for Ryan Eiermann, who pitched 7⅔ innings of shutout baseball as the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp won 2-0 on Wednesday night in a Prospect League game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Eiermann struck out 12 Gems in the game. His 43 strikeouts in 26 innings lead the Prospect League, with the next closest pitcher recording 27 strikeouts this season. His record is 3-0, and his 1.38 earned run average is fourth-best in the league.

Jayce Maag had the Gems’ first hit with a double to lead off the third inning. Jake Skrine had a two-out hit in the seventh, and Bryce Miller welcomed relief pitcher Justin Rios with a two-out double in the eighth.

Matt Schark was robbed of a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth.

Starting pitcher Hunter Wienhoff, a Quincy High School graduate, took the loss. He allowed two hits, one walk and one run in three innings. Michael Nunez allowed one run in three innings of relief in his Gems debut. 

Quincy (6-11) is three games behind West-Great River Division leaders Burlington and Normal.