Loos drives in eight runs, hits league-best eighth homer as Gems wrap up home stand with victory

QUINCY — Lucas Loos drove in a season-high eight runs and took over the Prospect League home run lead, but the Quincy Gems nearly allowed a 13-2 lead to slip away and grabbed a 16-12 decision over the Normal Cornbelters on Tuesday afternoon at QU Stadium.

The Gems (14-16, 1-1 second half) have won nine of their last 13 games. Despite giving up 29 runs in two games, Quincy split a two-game series with the Cornbelters.

Quincy took a 1-0 lead when Kyle Hvidsten delivered an RBI single in the first inning. The Gems added three more runs in the third inning when Loos drove in two runs with a single, and Jack Zebig added a run-scoring single.

Quincy added five more runs in the fourth. Loos doubled to left to drive in two runs, Cam Suto had an RBI double, Easton Mains singled in a run and another run scored on an error.

Starting pitcher Peyton Clampitt tossed four shutout innings, but a poor throw to second on a potential inning-ending double play ball allowed Normal to score twice in the fifth, making the score 9-2.

Quincy tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Joe Siervo doubled and Jimmy Koza singled to put runners on the corners, and Riley Black singled to score Siervo. Loos followed with a three-run homer to left-center.

Loos now has eight home runs, which leads the Prospect League. He broke a three-way tie with Chillicothe’s Arturo Disla and Alton’s Erik Broekemeier.

Loos drove in a run in the sixth to give him eight for the day. His 36 runs batted in are fourth best in the league. Disla leads the lead with 45 RBIs.

Normal gave Quincy a score, scoring seven runs in the sixth off reliever Noah Harbin. Tyler Barker pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the save, and Stephen Eskridge pitched a perfect ninth to wrap up the victory.

Loos finished with four hits, while Siervo, Koza and Suto each had three. Loos has 10 hits in his last 22 at-bats with 19 RBIs.