Knights

The Nashua Silver Knights were back in action versus the Worcester Bravehearts at home today for the Knights's second education game of the year. Over 3,500 screaming kids came out to root for the Knights and they did not disappoint as both teams made it a worthwhile trip. 

The Knights starter in this one was Matt Fitzgibbon who was making his first start of the year for the team. Fitzgibbon would start the game hot, getting six of his seven batters out to start the game. Worcester starter Evan Cornelius also pitched well in this one as he would hold the Knights until the top of the second when their offense got started. 

In the bottom frame of the inning, Dylan Littlefield, Jake Haarde, and Joey Current all got on base as they put pressure on Cornelius. The next batter, Patrick Shrake, would drive in Littlefield to put the Knights on the board early. The last run of the inning would come from the bat of Will Burns as he drove in Haarde to give the Knights a 2-0 lead after the second frame. 

In the top half of the third, Fitzgibbon would get into some trouble as he gave the Bravehearts a runner in scoring position after a HBP and then a passed ball. Chris Mondesier would then drive that run in on a single to get the Bravehearts on the board. The Knights would go silent in the bottom half of the game as they led 2-1 after three. In the fourth the visitors kept the bats going as a Joe Frazzetta walk at the start of the inning came around to score to tie the game at two. 

Both teams moved to the bullpen in the fifth as Nashua brought in Justin Dressler and Worcester brought in Stephen Rickert. Both would toss a scoreless fifth and sixth innings as they would keep the game deadlocked heading into the seventh inning. 

In the seventh, the home squad would get going as they were able to get runners on base after a dropped third strike and a single. Then with Ernie Little as the plate, a run would score following an error on the play by the second baseman. In the eighth, the visitors would break the draw as they got a rally going. Chris Mondesir scored after Joe Frazzetta drove him in on a sacrifice fly. 

In the ninth, both teams will hold each other scoreless as they head to extras. This was Nashua's first time going to extras this year and they did not disappoint. In the top half of the frame, Brandon Metivier came onto throw for the Knights and he had his work cut out for him. There would be an automatic runner at second to start the inning. Metivier would get the first batter out via a pop-up and then intentionally walk the next. He would get a strikeout before putting another runner on via the intentional walk again. With the bases loaded and two outs, Metivier shut the door on the Hearts as he induced a groundout to the second baseman to end the inning. 

In the bottom half of the frame, the Knights bunted to start the inning and move the runner over to third. The bunt by Jeff Valdez was perfectly placed to allow Anthony Grabau to move to third. The next batter Little walked intentionally to set up a double play possibility. That would not happen though as the next batter Cole Patterson smacked one to left field that was deep

enough for Grabau to tag up and score. This run sealed the win for the Silver Knights making it their fourth victory of the season. 

Manager Nick Guarino said that it was “great to beat Worcester in front of a crowd of 3,000 kids, it was a good game with good intensity and good energy”. The Knights will be back in play on Friday at home as they will host a sellout crowd for Brock Holt night versus the Norwich Sea Unicorns.