Eight-run outburst in second inning by Clinton ruins home opener for Gems
QUINCY — An eight-run second inning proved to be too much for the Quincy Gems to overcome in a 9-2 loss to the Clinton LumberKings in a Prospect League game and season opener for Quincy on Friday night at QU Stadium.
The loss is the third in a row to start the season for the Gems, who are in last place in the Great River Division, two games behind first-place Burlington. The Gems and LumberKings play again at QU Stadium Saturday night.
Quincy starter Cole Parkhill made it through the first inning unscathed, but he couldn’t get an out in the second inning. He allowed three hits and walked three, and he also mishandled a sacrifice bunt. After walking two batters with the bases loaded, Parkhill came out and Josh Hempleman came in.
The first pitch Hempleman threw was turned into a line-drive grand slam by Caden Neumann to cap off the eight-run uprising.
Hempelman allowed four hits in three innings. Relievers Connor Schwindeler and Dawson Flowers combined to pitch five innings of shutout baseball for the Gems.
Jack Zebig singled in a run in the fourth inning for the Gems, and Lucas Loos provided the other run with a home run in the seventh.
Loos and Cross Jumper both had two hits for the Gems, who committed four errors.
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