By FRANK CASH
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
Chris Martin didn't particularly like his seat in the press box.
"This is nerve wracking," the Quincy Gems manager said during his team's game against Richmond Wednesday night. "There's not a thing I can do from up here."
Except wait and hope the Gems could hold on to a lead.
Martin was exiled to the press box during a one-game suspension after being ejected from Monday night's 7-6 loss to Dubois County. Martin's patience paid off with a 3-2 Prospect League victory over Richmond at QU-Stadium.
The victory stalled the Gems' skid, in which they lost three out of the last four games. Quincy, which will play the third game of a five-game homestand tonight against the DuPage Dragons, still has the league's best record at 16-7 and a 31/2-game lead over Springfield in the West Division.
The Gems had to scratch and claw for two sixth-inning runs which gave them their only lead of the game.
With Quincy trailing 2-1, Justin Dunning was hit to lead off the sixth inning and took second on a passed ball. After Jon Myers walked one out later, the River Rats pulled starter Neil Hudson, calling on right-handed reliever Eric Davis.
Richmond catcher Jake Carr let Davis' first pitch get by to advance Myers and Dunning to second and third. After Davis struck out Luke Schlechte, Dunning scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
"You have to take situations like that," Dunning said. "It wasn't pretty or anything like that. We just need to get runners on and get them around to score."
The Gems weren't finished. Jake Hibberd, who was at bat when Dunning scored, doubled off the right-center field wall to score Myers for the go-ahead run.
The bullpen did the rest. Gems relievers Jimmy Foster and Aaron Brett combined to allow only one hit and one walk to preserve the victory for starter Casey Henn, who scattered five hits and struck out five in the first six innings.
"All three guys came in and pitched well," Martin said. "We had a leadoff walk to start the game and another when Foster came in, but other than that, they competed."
Quincy started from behind, giving up two runs in the top of the third when Garrett Stephens singled home a pair of runs. Richmond (11-12) had only four hits the rest of the game.
"The first inning was kind of tough since it seems to be happening so much to us lately," said the Gems' Brian Farris, who was 2 for 3 with a ground-rule double in the fifth inning. "We didn't have much choice but to sit and wait. It turned out it was worth it."
-- sports@whig.com/221-3365
