Solid start from Winstead helps Gems inch back into race; Schark ties league record for RBIs

BURLINGTON, Iowa — Jacob Winstead pitched his best game of the season Thursday night, allowing two runs in seven innings as the Quincy Gems defeated the Burlington Bees 7-2 in a Prospect League game at Community Field.

The victory, combined with Clinton’s 16-5 loss on Thursday to Illinois Valley, puts the Gems (27-29, 14-15 second half) within 1 1/2 games of the Great River Division lead. Clinton (14-12) plays at home Friday against O’Fallon, while Quincy is at home against Burlington.

After giving up two runs in the second inning, Winstead allowed just three hits over the next five innings. Reliever Philip Reinhardt finished up, throwing two perfect innings.

Jake Skrine continued his hot hitting of late, bashing a two-run homer in the first inning. He has five home runs in his last 10 games and nine for the season.

Matt Schark hit a sacrifice fly and Alex Harbin added a run-scoring double for the Gems in the third inning. Tyler Carpenter scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Jadon Arakaki was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded later in the same inning to drive in another run.

Ryan Hutchinson tripled and scored on Schark’s groundout in the eighth for the Gems’ final run.

Schark is tied for the Prospect League record for RBIs in a single season with 66. He has four games remaining on the schedule to break the record.