Sliders score two in eighth to beat Gems; lead in Great River Division down to two

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Springfield Sliders scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to break a tie score and defeat the Quincy Gems 7-5 on Monday night in a Prospect League game at Robin Roberts Field.

Jacob Mulcahy’s triple off Gems reliever Jacob Winstead drove in the go-ahead run with no outs in the eighth. Mulcahy later scored on a passed ball.

The Gems went down in order in the ninth. Sliders reliever Mac Hickman earned the victory, striking out seven and allowing just one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Gems scored twice in the fourth inning on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Andrew Fay’s double drove in Alex Wattermann in the fifth inning. Fay drove in Jake Skrine with a single in the sixth. The Gems also scored a run in the sixth on an error by Springfield pitcher John Durham.

Quincy was limited to five hits. 

The Gems (23-21, 10-7 second half) have a two-game lead over Clinton (8-9) in the Great River Division of the West Conference. Normal (8-10) and Burlington (7-9) are both 2 1/2 games behind.