Reyerson pitches gem in opener to keep Gems in first place in Great River Division

QUINCY — Ryan Reyerson showed again Sunday afternoon why he’s been one of the top pitchers in the Prospect League during the first half of the season.

Reyerson, who completed his freshman season at Iowa Western Community College in the spring, allowed just one run and four hits in six innings in the Quincy Gems’ 5-1 victory over the Cape Catfish in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday at QU Stadium. The Gems lost the second game 8-1.

Quincy (13-12) is in first place in the tightly bunched Great River Division. The Gems lead Normal by a half-game, Clinton by two games and Burlington by 2 1/2 games.

Reyerson (3-1), a left-hander, has a 1.77 earned run average in 20 1/3 innings pitched this summer. He’s one of five pitches in the Prospect League with an earned run average below 2.00 with more than 20 innings pitched. He has allowed one run in his last 12 innings.

Quincy took the lead in the second inning when Drew Townsend doubled to center field, scoring Lucas Loos and Gabe Swansen. After the Catfish scored in the third, Quincy retaliated in the bottom of the inning when Swansen belted a two-run homer.

The Gems added their final run in the sixth inning when a balk allowed Nolan Wosman to score.

Quincy only had four hits in the game. Swansen had two of them.

Quincy scored first in the second game when Jonathan Latham doubled to right center and Lucas Loos drove him in with a single.

Cape then scored eight unanswered runs – two in the third inning and three each in the fourth and fifth innings – to take an 8-1 lead. Five of the runs came on home runs by the Catfish. Dante Zamudio hit a two-run homer off starting and losing pitcher Ryan Foley. Andrew Sharp hit a solo homer and Ty Stauss hit a two-run homer off relief pitcher Stefan Stockwell.

Catfish pitchers Griffin Lohman, Colin Bryant and Stephen Pursley allowed six Quincy hits while striking out eight.