Gems rally in top of ninth to tie score but allow game-winning run in bottom of ninth

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Held to three hits through eight scoreless innings, the Quincy Gems rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth but allowed the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 loss to the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Thursday night in a Prospect League game at Robin Roberts Field.

Easton Mains led off the ninth for the Gems (0-2) against reliever Sam Pritchard with a single, and Lucas Loos walked Riley Black then singled to center, scoring Maine and knocking Pritchard out of the game. 

Mike Sullivan took over on the mound for the Lucky Horseshoes, and he unleashed a wild pitch to move Black and Loos up a base. A balk by Sullivan allowed Loos to score and moved Black to third. Cam Suto then drove in Black with a game-tying sacrifice fly.

Against Gems reliever Stephen Eskridge in the bottom of the ninth, Dawson Johns walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by William Zareh. A passed ball by Black, the Gems catcher, moved to Johns to third. When Peyton Matthews hit a ground ball to Quincy second baseman Jimmy Koza, Johns beat the throw home.

Gems starter Philip Reinhardt allowed seven hits and three runs in four innings. Reliever Stefan Stockwell then followed with four shutout innings. 

Black had three hits and has started the season with six hits in his first nine at-bats. The rest of the team is hitting .185 (10 for 54).