Lake Erie remains alive in playoff race

Justin Sinibaldi was happy to lend a helping hand to a Lake Erie team that continues to hang onto its playoff hopes by the skin of its teeth.

The closer-turned-starter pitcher was sensational as he notched five strikeouts in six scoreless innings, helping Lake Erie stymie Windy City, 3-0 in seven innings in front of 1,526 fans at Sprenger Stadium on Aug. 30.

The triumph was the nightcap of a doubleheader. Windy City won the first game, 3-2.

With the Crushers (46-46) 1 ½ games out of the wild

card and needing to win every one of their four remaining games to stay in the hunt, it was the perfect storm of great pitching from Sinibaldi (3-4) and just enough hitting from the top half of the order in the second game.

Leadoff hitter Aaron Hill brought the fans to their feet early as he reached third on a wild throw to first base. That set up an RBI single from Zach Racusin, placing the Crushers up, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning.

After allowing a walk and hitting a batter in the top of the first, Sinibaldi settled in, retiring the next 13 batters for the Thunderbolts (40-52). His mixing and matching of pitches confused Windy City throughout the night. He allowed just two hits. Lake Erie’s defense did its part as well, including a risky acrobatic catch from Racusin in left field during the top of the fifth inning and stellar infield play from Hill and Co. throughout the night.

The Thunderbolts tried to answer with runners on first and second in the top of the sixth, but Sinibaldi once again found a way out, striking out Axel Johnson and Matt Brown to end the inning.

Lake Erie added a pair of insurance runs off Thunderbolts starting pitcher Patrick Ledet (5-3) in the bottom of the sixth with RBI singles from Cody Lenahan and Derek Perry to cushion the lead to 3-0.

Seth Lucio was called upon in the top of the seventh to capture the save. He allowed a double to Larry Balkwill, but buckled down by retiring the next three batters as Lake Erie escaped with the victory.

The Crushers will open up a three game series with the Eastern Division champion Washington Wild Things on Aug. 31 with a first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.