Three-run eighth helps Gems open second half with victory

CLINTON, Iowa — The Quincy Gems opened the second half of the Prospect League season by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the Clinton LumberKings 6-3 on Thursday night at NelsonCorp Field.

Matt Schark led off the eighth for the Gems with a single and advanced to second base when Jackson Galloway reached base on an error by the second baseman. With Jayce Maag at the plate, Schark stole third and scored on an error by the Clinton catcher.

Maag struck out, and Galloway eventually reached third base when Bryce Miller struck out. Ryan Hutchinson and Andrew Fay walked to load the bases. Alec Patino was hit by a pitch, scoring Galloway. Hutchinson then scored when Nick Iannantone walked.

Reliever Trent Youngblood, who bailed the Gems out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the seventh, also pitched a scoreless eighth inning and earned the victory. Connery O’Donnell walked two in the ninth inning but earned his third save of the season.

Gems pitchers walked 10 batters in the game, and Gems batters struck out 16 times.

Quincy (14-14 overall, 1-0 second half) and Burlington are tied for the Great Lakes Division lead in the West Conference.