Latham’s pinch-hit grand slam in sixth helps Gems close regular season with victory

QUINCY — Quincy Gems manager Brad Gyorkos made the right move at the right time.

The Gems had just taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run by Luke Napleton and a wild pitch that allowed Lucas Loos to score. Quincy went on to load the bases, and Gyorkos pulled Jonathan Latham off the bench to pinch hit for Otto Jones.

Latham hit the second pitch he saw from Cauy Massner for a grand slam over the left-field wall, and the Gems went in to win 9-2 on Saturday night in a Prospect League game at QU Stadium.

The Gems end the second half of the season with a 12-16 record and a 31-29 overall record. As the first-half champion of the Great Lakes Division, Quincy will play host at 6:30 p.m. Sunday to Normal in the first round of the Prospect League playoffs. It is Quincy’s first postseason appearance since 2016.

Loos added an RBI single in the seventh, and Logan Voth delivered a home run in the eighth. 

Napleton, who went 1 for 22 in his first six games, had two hits and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Loos and Voth both had two hits, and Croes had a hit to extend his hitting streak to 17 games since joining the team on July 18.

Three Quincy pitchers combined on a two-hitter. Starter Peyton Clampitt allowed one hit and one run in five innings, and reliever Adam Aubuchon allowed no hits and one run in two innings. Outfielder Alex Harbin pitched the last two innings, mixing in an occasional eephus pitch with fastballs clocked in the high 60s to low 70s. He allowed one hit and one walk and didn’t allow a run.