Extra-inning loss ends Gems’ three-game win streak as walks, errors hurt

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Quincy Gems built a lead Friday night by capitalizing on all of the free bases the Jackson Rockabillys were willing to give.

Then, the Gems gave it all back.

A five-run seventh inning by the Rockabillys which featured two bases-loaded walks and a run-scoring wild pitch tied the game at 12 and forced extra innings. After the Gems scored twice in the top of the 10th, the Rockabillys answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on a balk and a fielding error.

In the 11th, Griffin Cameron’s single drove in the winning run as Jackson ended Quincy’s three-game Prospect League win streak with a 15-14 victory.

The Gems built a 12-7 lead through six innings by taking advantage of walks — 11 of them in fact. Quincy had just six hits through six innings, but one was a three-run home run from Charles Schebler in the second inning. The Gems scored six times in the fifth inning on just one hit as they took five walks, had two batters hit by pitches and saw the Rockabillys commit an error.

The unraveling of the Gems’ pitching staff meant the lead wasn’t safe.

Four Quincy pitchers combined to walk 14 batters, hit another and struggled as the defense committed four errors.

Jack Zebig went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Gems, while Easton Mains went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBIs and Otto Jones scored three runs. 

The Gems are 10-8 in the second half of the Prospect League season and sit a half-game behind the Clinton LumberKings for first place in the Great River Division. There are 12 games remaining in the regular season.