Schisler turns in another solid start, Loos takes over league homer lead as Gems cut magic number to three

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems’ magic number for clinching the second-half title in the Great River Division is now at three after Monday night’s 8-4 victory over the Alton River Dragons in a Prospect League game at QU Stadium.

The Gems (29-24, 16-9 second half) are in first place in the Great River Division, 2½ games of Clinton. Both Illinois Valley and Burlington lost doubleheaders on Monday, falling 3½ games behind the Gems. Quincy has five regular season games remaining, and three of them are against Illinois Valley. Any combination of Gems victories and Clinton losses that add to three this week will clinch the title for Quincy.

The Gems scored in each of the first five innings, took an early 7-0 lead and never were threatened.

Lucas Loos had an RBI single in the first inning, and Harry Oden scored on a wild pitch in the second inning. Loos belted a two-run homer in the third inning, and later in the frame, Joe Siervo pulled off a delayed steal of third and scored on a throwing error by Alton pitcher T.J. Miller.

Loos and Jimmy Koza had RBI singles in the fourth, and Luke Jessen drove in a run with a single in the fifth. Loos took over the Prospect League lead with his 11^th home run, and he’s now in second place with 56 RBIs behind Chillicothe’s Anthony Disla, who has 59 RBIs but is no longer with the team.

Starter Jake Schisler allowed four hits, one walk and two runs while striking out seven over six innings to earn his second victory of the summer. In 23 innings over four appearances for the Gems, Schisler has an earned run average of 3.50 with 20 strikeouts. He has allowed just four walks and 19 hits.