Gems sport worst record after losing highest-scoring game in Prospect League history

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems had their most prolific offensive night of the season, scoring 15 runs on 17 hits. It still wasn’t enough. 

The Clinton LumberKings rallied from a four-run deficit, then lost a four-run lead but scored six runs in the final two innings to defeat the Gems 18-15 in a Prospect League game on Sunday night at QU Stadium.

The loss is the Gems’ third straight to Clinton. Quincy has the worst record in the Prospect League at 2-8. 

The 33 combined runs between the LumberKings and the Gems tied the highest scoring game in the history of the Prospect League. Danville defeated Lafayette 28-5 on June 11, 2019, and Chillicothe defeated Slippery Rock 30-3 on June 30, 2012.

That figure broke the Gems’ franchise record for most runs scored in a game. Quincy set its own mark on July 17, 2018 in a 29-2 victory over Springfield.

Clinton scored twice in the first inning, but Quincy quickly responded. Gino D’Alessio and Jackson Galloway both singled, and Nick Iannantone hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat for the Gems this season. The Gems added three more runs in the frame on an RBI double by Dane Thomas, an RBI single from Tyler Carpenter and a passed ball.

The LumberKings tied the score with four runs off starter Bennett Stice, but Jake Skrine put Quincy back in front with an RBI single.

Clinton then scored six runs in the next two innings off Cole Parkhill and led 12-8. Quincy scored a single run in the fifth with an RBI single from D’Alessio, then took the lead at 13-12 when D’Alessio hit a two-out grand slam just inside the left-field foul pole in the sixth inning.

However, Quincy couldn’t keep the lead.  

Skrine failed to catch a line drive with one out in the top of the eighth, allowing two Clinton runs to score. An RBI double, followed by another run scoring on a wild pitch by Jack Payne, put the visitors back in fron 16-13. Matt Schark countered with a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Gems within 16-15.

Clinton scored twice in the top of the ninth against reliever Bryce Miller, and the Gems went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

D’Alessio had three hits and five RBIs for Quincy. Skrine and Thomas both had three hits.