Gems still looking for first lead this season, losing streak hits four games

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems have played 36 innings through four games of the Prospect League season, and they have yet to take a lead.

The Gems fell behind 6-0 during Saturday night’s game at QU Stadium against Clinton and eventually lost 8-5 in a Great River Division game. Quincy (0-4) vnow trails Clinton, Burlington and Illinois Valley — all with 2-2 records — by two games in the division.

Starting pitching has been a big part of the problem. Quincy’s four starters — Peyton Clampitt, Philip Reinhardt, Cole Parkhill and Carter Poole — have pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing 18 hits and 22 runs while walking 14.

Poole retired only four batters on Saturday, allowing three hits, four walks and four runs.

Quincy trailed 6-0 entering the bottom of the third. Three walks loaded the bases with one out, and Cam Suto’s single to right scored Easton Mains and Jack Zebig. A fielder’s choice by Kyle Hvidsten forced Suto at second but allowed Lucas Loos to reach third. Loos scored on a wild pitch.

Harrison Blueweiss walked and Jimmy Koza was hit by a pitch, loading the bases again. Logan Romasanta came on in relief for Logan Schmitt for the LumberKings, and he got Logan Voth to hit a ground ball to the right side. First baseman Casen Neumann knocked it down, but his throw to second for the force out was late, allowing Hvidsten to score. Blueweiss was thrown out at home trying to score.

The Gems were held scoreless until the seventh when Hvidsten scored with two outs on an error by Clinton shortstop Max Holy. 

Clinton led 8-4 entering the ninth. Suto led off by getting hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on two groundouts for the game’s final run. 

Reliever Tim Gooden threw three scoreless innings for Quincy, striking out six. The Gems were limited to four hits, with Loos collecting two. The Gems are hitting .206 (27 for 131) this season.