Loos breaks tie in eighth inning with three-run homer; Gems can clinch playoff berth on Wednesday at home

PERU, Ill. — Lucas Loos hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the top of the eighth, and the Quincy Gems’ magic number for clinching the second-half title in the Great River Division is now at two after Tuesday night’s 6-3 victory over the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp in a Prospect League game at Schweickert Stadium.

The Gems (30-24, 17-9 second half) are in first place in the Great River Division, 2½ games of Clinton. Quincy has four regular season games remaining. Any combination of Gems victories and Clinton losses adding to two will clinch the title for the Gems. Quincy plays host to Springfield on Wednesday.

Easton Mains led off the eighth with a double, but Charles Schebler and Jack Zebig both struck out. Jimmy Koza was hit by a pitch, and the Pistol Shrimp brought in Sebastian Gonzales to pitch to Loos, who homered to left field.

Loos now has 12 home runs, which leads the Prospect League. He also has 59 RBIs, which puts him in a tie with Chillicothe’s Anthony Disla, who is no longer with the team.

Reliever Stefan Stockwell pitched a perfect seventh inning. Jake Syverson walked one in the eighth inning but struck out three. Stephen Eskridge earned his sixth save of the season, striking out one and getting two groundouts in the ninth.

Starter Noah Harbin allowed three runs and two hits in the first inning, but he shut out the Pistol Shrimp and allowed just two hits over the next five innings. 

Quincy scored twice in the third inning when Jaison Andujar doubled home a run and later scored on Tristan Meny’s single. Koza tied the game in the sixth when he singled home Mains, who had reached on an error.