Down five runs entering ninth inning, Gems rally to tie score, then steal victory with four runs in 10th

ALTON — The Quincy Gems scored five unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the score, then scored four more unearned runs in the 10^th inning to shock the Alton River Dragons 12-8 on Monday night at Lloyd Hopkins Field in a Prospect League game.

The Gems (4-9) are one game behind Illinois Valley for second place in the Great River Division. 

The Gems were shut out on five hits in the first six innings and fell behind 8-0. Quincy finally broke the ice with three runs in the seventh. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, and a wild pitch scored the first run. Cam Suto scored on a groundout by Harrison Blueweiss, and Joe Siervo drove in Joe Huffman with a single.

Quincy loaded the bases in the ninth with a single, a walk and an error. Siervo’s fielder’s choice allowed Cross Jumper to score, and Jack Zebig’s sacrifice fly scored Blueweiss. After Lucas Loos walked, Riley Black greeted reliever A.J. Pabst with an RBI double. Suto’s ground ball to short resulted in an error that allowed Loos and Black to score and tie the game.

Using the Prospect League tie-breaker rule, Zebig started the 10^th inning on second base and moved to third on Huffman’s groundout. Jumper was intentionally walked, and Blueweiss drew another walk. Another error by River Dragons shortstop Bryer Arview allowed two runs to score. After Siervo singled to load the bases again, Zebig walked to drive in one run and Loos was hit by a pitch to score another run.

The Gems had nine hits and received 10 walks from eight Alton pitchers. Siervo had three hits, and Zebig had two hits and drew two walks.

Dawson Flowers pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory, allowing one hit.