Three-inning run barrage carries Gems to victory over Bees

BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Quincy Gems willingly took what the Burlington Bees kept giving Friday night.

It resulted in a bounty of runs.

The Gems scored four times in the second inning by capitalizing on three walks, a hit batter, a stolen base and two wild pitches and then tallied nine runs in the two innings that followed, catapulting them to a 14-4 Prospect League victory at Community Field.

The Gems are 28-24 overall and tied for the best record in the Great River Division with the Normal CornBelters. Quincy won the first-half title and is guaranteed a playoff spot. Normal owns the division lead in the second half with a 14-8 record. Quincy is 9-11 in the second half.

The three-inning scoring barrage got started when Jaison Andujar was hit by a pitch leading off the second, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Logan Voth’s single. After Hayden Moore walked to load the bases, Drew Townsend drew a one-out single to force in Alex Harbin with the second run.

Voth scored on a wild pitch, and Moore scored onm Jordan Latham’s sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

In the third, Luke Napleton led off with a home run. After Andujar doubled and went to third on a wild pitch, Harbin doubled to drive in a run. Moore singled and a throwing error allowed Harbin to score. Moore capped the inning by scoring on Dayson Croes’ groundout.

Andujar’s RBI single jumpstarted the five-run fourth inning, which featured back-to-back RBI singles from Moore and Croes and another run scoring on a wild pitch.

Three Burlington pitchers combined to walk 10 and uncork four wild pitches.

Andujar finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Harbin and Moore each scored three times and Voth and Croes each drove in two runs.

Tim O’Connor allowed one earned run over five innings, striking out seven and walking two. Cooper Stotts pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.

The Gems travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for a two-game series with the Cape Catfish on Saturday and Sunday.