Bravehearts

Nashua, NH-  After an off day on Tuesday, Worcester headed to Nashua on Wednesday night. The ‘Hearts suffered their worst loss in franchise history in game one, and went on to lose a three run lead in the final inning of game two. 

It was the Silver Knights who got on the board early and often in game one.  Leadoff man Luis Atiles and Dylan Jones singled, and advanced on sacrifice bunt. A Jared Dupere single brought home Atiles and a Joe Bramanti single brought home Jones to make the lead 2-0 in the first. After a walk by Kyle Sandstrom, a two-run single by Ben Irvine brought home Dupere and Bramanti to double the lead. 

Nashua would add two more runs in the fifth. A solo home run by Dupere made it 5-0. Bramanti then singled, and Mike La Rosa walked. Irvine singled to bring home Bramanti and increase the lead. 

More runs were added for Nashua in the sixth inning. Atiles singled, followed by back-to-back walks by Jones and Cowles loaded the bases. Dupere singled, hitting home Atiles and and Jones. A wild pitch then scored Cowles to make the score 9-0. After a Bramanti single, Blandini singled scoring Dupere and Bramanti. An error by Tyler Becker off the bat of Atiles scored Sandstrom, and a double by Jones scored Blandini and Atiles making the score 14-0. 

Worcester added one in the seventh after Paul Coumoulos doubled home John Thrasher who reached on a walk for their first run of the game. A fielders choice off the bat of Barry Walsh scored Dupere for another run. Rice would hit in Thrasher again for Worcester in the ninth, but Nashua would hold on to win 15-2.

In game two, it was Worcester who struck first. Back-to-back singles by Mack Cheli and Tyler Becker, followed by a Jack Gardner walk loaded the bases with no outs. Craig Corliss hit into a double play which scored Cheli for the first run. A Joe Pesce single scored Becker, and a Nick Martin double advanced Pesce to third. Mariano Ricciardi doubled to score both Pesce and Martin to increase the lead to 4-0. 

The Knights responded with two runs in the fourth inning. Bramanti reached on an error by Ben McNeil, and Jack Arend walked. A wild pitch advanced both, and a balk allowed Bramanti to score. A passed ball then allowed Arend to score as well to cut the lead to 4-2. 

Worcester got a run back in the top of the fifth. Becker singled and Jack Gardner doubled to put runners on second and third. A sac-fly by Nick Martin allowed Becker to score Worcester’s fifth run. Nashua answered in the bottom of the inning. Irvine singled and Jones brought him home with a double to cut the lead back to two.

Insurance was added in the seventh. With the bases loaded and pinch-runner Trevor Johnson on third, Ricciardi was hit by a pitch to increase the lead to 6-3. 

Down by three, Nashua fought back in the final inning to tie the game. Irvine walked and Jones reached on an error with one out. Ben Cowles then walked to load the bases. A single by Mike La Rocca scored two runs bringing the score to 6-5. A Dupere singled tied the game, and advanced La Rocca to third. A Passed ball off the glove of Craig Corliss allowed the winning run to score for the Knights.

Worcester returns home tomorrow in a re-match against the Silver Knights. First pitch for the July Fourth matchup will be at 1:05 pm.