Loos homer in eighth breaks tie, Eskridge tosses two perfect innings in relief as Gems open home stand with victory

QUINCY — Lucas Loos belted a solo home run to left-center field in to bottom of the eighth to put the Quincy Gems on top, and Stephen Eskridge shut down the Burlington Bees in the ninth to preserve a 9-8 victory Friday night in a Prospect League game at QU Stadium. 

The Gems (12-15), who started a five-game home stand on Friday, are in second place in the Great River Division, one game ahead of Burlington and Illinois Valley. Clinton has clinched the first half division title.

The Gems were ahead 5-3 entering the top of the sixth, but after Stefan Stockwell walked the leadoff hitter, Juan C Wu came on in relief. The Bees took advantage of three singles, two walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a passed ball to score five runs off Wu and take an 8-5 lead.

Quincy came back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score.  Cam Suto singled, Luke Jessen was hit by a pitch and Easton Mains walked to load the bases with one out. Joe Siervo singled to center to drive in Suto and Jessen, and Mains later scored on a wild pitch.

Eskridge then came on in relief and pitched two perfect innings while striking out three to earn his first victory.

Jimmy Koza had three hits for the Gems, including a solo homer to right in the first inning. Siervo, Loos, Suto and Riley Black all had two hits each. 

Loos also hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning and finished with four RBIs. He has six home runs this season and is tied for second in the Prospect League with Chillicothe’s Gavin Ganun. They are one behind league leader Arturo Disla from Chillicothe. Loos has 25 RBIs, which tie him for seventh in the league.