Gems catcher throws out base stealers for last two outs of one-run victory at home

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems had a one-run lead entering the top of the ninth inning, and catcher Jonathan Latham did his best to maintain that lead.

Latham threw out would-be base stealers for the final two outs of the game as the Gems held on for a 6-5 victory over the Alton River Dragons on Wednesday night in a Prospect League game at QU Stadium.

The Gems (5-3) are tied with Normal for first place in the Great River Division. The two teams meet for the first time this season on Friday.

The River Dragons scored twice in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Jax Howard to make the score 6-5, so Gems manager Brad Gyorkos brought in Daniel Hargrave to earn the save in the ninth. 

Hargrave retired Burris on a fly ball, but then walked Noah Bush. Latham then threw out Bush on an attempted steal. Hargrave then walked Blake Stenger, and Latham threw him out as well as Stenger tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt.

The River Dragons lead the Prospect League with 36 stolen bases in eight games, but Latham threw out three base stealers on Wednesday.

The Gems trailed 2-0 entering the third inning but tied the game on a bases-loaded walk to Tye Wood and a sacrifice fly by Gabe Swansen. After Eddie King hit an opposite field solo home run to right field for Alton in the fourth, Jordan Duncan lined a homer to right, driving in Nolan Wosman and putting the Gems ahead 4-3 in the sixth.

Leadoff hitter Andrew Fay then gave the Gems extra cushion by hitting a two-run homer to right in the seventh to score Drew Townsend, who had walked.

Alton outhit the Gems 13-7. Fay and Duncan each had two hits for Quincy. Howard pitched three innings of relief to earn the victory.