Gems wrap up home schedule by routing Pistol Shrimp by 10-run rule

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems wrapped up their last home game of the regular season on a positive note, thanks to a little help from the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp.

The Pistol Shrimp lineup on Friday night had seven pitchers playing field positions and left-handed players at shortstop and second base, while third baseman Will Worthington was the starting pitcher. The Gems’ offense didn’t get going until the third inning, but they eventually won easily 13-3 on Friday night at QU Stadium.

The Gems (31-25, 18-10 second half) are in first place in the Great River Division, two games ahead of Clinton in the second half with one game remaining on Saturday in Burlington, Iowa. The Gems and LumberKings will play in a single-game elimination playoff at 2 p.m. Sunday in Clinton.

The Gems were limited to one run — a solo homer by Luke Jessen — in the first three innings. Andrew Fay and Joe Siervo had RBI singles in a three-run fourth inning, and Tristan Meny had an RBI single and Siervo contributed a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. 

Jimmy Koza had an RBI single in the sixth inning, and Lucas Loos followed with a three-run homer. Loos now has 13 home runs and 62 runs batted in to lead the Prospect League in both categories. The Gems took advantage of three walks to load the bases in the seventh and scored three runs to end the game by 10-run rule.

Max Babich was the winning pitcher, pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out eight batters. Loos had three hits for the Gems, while Fay, Meny and Jessen had two each.