By MATT SCHUCKMAN

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

Quincy Gems manager Chris Martin isn't the only who believes the team with the best record in the Prospect League has become complacent.

The players sense it, too.

Following Monday night's 7-6 loss to Dubois County -- the Gems' third loss in their last four games -- designated hitter Jon Myers said the intensity Quincy showed during a late-inning, six-run rally is what has been lacking.

"We really needed that intensity all game," Myers said. "We've been kind of lackadaisical. We need to bring that intensity right away, and maybe we're on the other side of that."

Martin believes that starts during warm-ups.

"We're not preparing ourselves right," he said. "We're a little too comfortable right now. So we're going to shake things up little bit and make it a little more like school ball, a little more structured."

Hopefully, it can ignite some offense.

In the last four games combined, the Gems have scored just three runs prior to the seventh inning. Monday night, the offense was at its worst, managing just one hit -- a single up the middle by Myers -- and three baserunners in the first six innings.

By then, Quincy (15-7) trailed, having allowed seven runs in the third inning when starter Chris Cummins walks three of the first five batters he faced.

"If we go out and put up a five or six spot on somebody, being the first-place team, a lot of them aren't going to feel good about their chances," Martin said. "We have to change our mentality."

When the intensity changed, the Gems made in interesting.

Jordin Hood led off the seventh inning with a single and went to third when Dubois County second baseman Mills Rogers threw wide of first as tried to double off Hood after catching a line drive.

One out later, Luke Schlechte singled to center field to score Hood.

The real rally, though, didn't start until there were two outs in the eighth inning.

Two singles and a hit batter set the stage for Myers, who tripled into the left-center field gap to cut the deficit to 7-4. It also chased Bombers starter Travis Lamar, leaving Joe Ochs to face Schlechte.

Ochs seemingly won the battle, getting Schlechte to hit a fly ball to center field. However, Bombers center fielder Gavin Green lost the ball in the lights and it dropped for a run-scoring double. Brian Farris followed with a run-scoring single, pulling Quincy within a run going into the ninth.

"We want the same energy we had in the last three innings in the first three innings," Martin said.

After reliever Kevin Lee retired the Bombers in order in the top of the ninth, the Gems started another two-out rally in the bottom of the frame when Justin Dunning was hit by a pitch.

Hood, the league's leading run producer at the plate, stepped in and was hit in the upper right arm on the second pitch from Dubois County reliever Matt Antos. However, home plate umpire Cody Adams ruled Hood swung at the pitch, negating the fact he was hit.

Martin appealed the call, asking Adams to check with first base umpire Mike Hirstein to determine if Hood swung. Adams told Martin he made the call and refused to check with Hirstein, resulting in an argument that ultimately got Martin ejected from the game.

Hood struck out on the next pitch, but Martin's actions seemed to change the tone for the Gems.

"That fires us up," Myers said. "I hope we can bring that intensity on Wednesday and keep it the rest of the year."

-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366