Aug 19, 2017 4 min read

If the Wild Things are to make the Frontier League playoffs, then they will need performances like they received from unlikely sources Saturday night against Lake Erie.

Starting pitcher Tyler Garkow, who was re-acquired by Washington at the league’s transaction deadline Monday, struck out 11 and allowed only two hits.

Reliever Frank Trimarco, who was pitching at Wild Things Park for the first time, inherited and worked out of a jam in the seventh inning, stranding the potential game-tying run at third base.

Third baseman Kenny Peoples-Walls added to his best week in a Wild Things uniform by driving in three more runs.

It added up to an 8-4 victory for Washington that moved the Wild Things into a tie with Windy City for the final wild-card playoff spot. Washington has 14 games remaining.

“The guys have good life right now,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “The pitching has been good. We’ve had shutdown innings and a lot of two-out RBI.”

Washington had stellar pitching from Garkow (1-0), who looked nothing like the pitcher who posted a 14.73 ERA in three outings with the Wild Things last year before being released. The right-hander looked a lot like the pitcher who was second in the Pacific Association in ERA and strikeouts when he was acquired from the Sonoma Stompers last week by Washington. He threw strikes, changed speeds and had Lake Erie hitters swinging and missing at an alarming rate.

Garkow struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings. The Wild Things’ single-game record for strikeouts by a pitcher is 14, set by Justin Hall in the 2011 season finale at Windy City. Hall pitched 11 innings in that game.

“I’m the same guy with the same stuff I had when I was here before,” Garkow said. “I’m just more mature. I got the innings I needed. I had to get through some adversity to get to where I needed to be.

“My mindset with preparation is better. I’m going into games 100 percent better. A few tweaks with a couple of my pitches helped me, too.”

The only hits Garkow allowed did prove costly. Lake Erie designated hitter Brandon Murray belted a two-run homer to left field in the second inning to give the Crushers a 2-0 lead. The shot came immediately after Garkow walked Conner Simonetti, the lone free pass issued by Washington pitchers.

The other hit off Garkow was a run-scoring double by Simonetti in the seventh and cut Washington’s lead to 4-3. It came after Jordan Dean reached on an error.

Garkow exited one out later with Simonetti on third base. The left-handed throwing Trimarco entered the game and got Murray to ground out against a drawn-in infield with Simonetti holding at third base. Trimarco struck out lefty Connor Oliver to end the threat.

Washington then broke the game open with a three-run seventh that pushed the lead to 7-3. All of the runs scored on Kane Sweeney’s bases-loaded double up the alley in left centerfield.

Peoples-Walls had given Washington the lead for good at 4-2 with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth off Lake Erie reliever Justin Sinabaldi, who had not given up a run since July 7. Peoples-Walls went 2-for-4 and his three RBI gives him 14 in five games this week.

“If he’s not the Player of the Week in the league then there should be an investigation,” Langbehn said. “He’s been the right man in the right spot. He’s not missing pitches.”

It was Santonio Holmes Night at the ballpark. The former Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl 43 MVP threw out the ceremonial first pitch and led the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The Wild Things wore special Steelers-style jerseys that were auctioned with the proceeds benefitting Santonio’s III & Long Foundation for Sickle Cell Anemia. … Catcher Conor Sullivan hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. … Wild Things reliever Jacob Condra-Bogan faced only one batter and induced a game-ending double-play grounder to earn his first save. … Lake Erie rookie starting pitcher Mason Klotz (1-1) allowed only five hits over six innings. … Washington second baseman Justin Bohn was 2-for-3 with a run-scoring double. … Attendance was 2,612. … It was announced the 2018 Frontier League All-Star Game will be played in O’Fallon, Mo., home of the River City Rascals.