Two outs from victory, Gems give up seven runs in ninth to suffer home setback

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems were two outs away from evening their record at .500 in the second half, but the O’Fallon Hoots capped off a seven-run ninth inning with a grand slam in a 10-7 victory in a Prospect League game on Sunday night at QU Stadium.

The Gems (7-9 second half, 26-22 overall) are tied with Burlington for second place in the Great Lakes Division, three games behind Normal.

O’Fallon trailed 7-3 entering the ninth, but two walks and a double against Gems reliever Cooper Stotts loaded the bases. Jayden Shafer came in from the bullpen and hit pinch-hitter Cole Robinson with a pitch to force in a run, and Logan Mantz followed with an RBI single through the left side.

Jacob Frost drew a bases-loaded walk — his fifth walk of the game — to knock Shafer out of the game, and pinch-hitter Jacob Hager greeted reliever Merrick Mathews with a grand slam over the left-field wall.

Quincy starting pitcher Peyton Clampitt lasted five innings, giving up five hits and three walks but just two runs. Making his debut for the Gems, Stotts allowed just one run in his first three innings of relief before the ninth-inning collapse.

The Gems stole nine bases in the game, and O’Fallon pitchers gave up 11 walks. However, Quincy batters had just six hits and struck out 14 times. Lucas Loos doubled, homered and drove in three runs for the Gems.

The two pitching staffs combined to walk 21 batters and throw 367 pitches in a game that took 3 hours and 22 minutes to complete.