Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua Silver Knights pitcher Josh Roberge struggled in the third inning Tuesday night in what ended up a 9-2 loss to the first place Worcester Bravehearts at Holman Stadium.

NASHUA – Kyle Jackson could feel it.

Something was different about his Nashua Silver Knights team on Tuesday night, and not in a good way.

And his instincts were correct, as the team looked sluggish until the last inning of a 9-2 loss at the hands of the Worcester Bravehearts at Holman Stadium.

“It was a weird vibe today in the clubhouse,” Jackson said. “We had some internal things, people weren’t happy with each other, but we nipped it in the bud. And I think it just set a bad tone.

“It was just one of those days. You’re going to have those, and you’re going to have a good pitcher come and pitch against you.”

That was Worcester’s Eric Chavarria, set to be a senior at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. But he wasn’t throwing potatoes at the Knights hitters, but rather good inside pitches that had them swinging defensively over five shutout innings.

Conversely, Worcester tattooed Nashua starter Josh Roberge for five runs in the third on two homers, a three-run blast by Ben McNeill over the left field boards and a solo blast by Andrew Selima over the right center boards. Add an RBI single by Dartmouth’s Trevor Johnson, and the Silver Knights were in a 5-0 hole they couldn’t dig out of.

Roberge walked six in three innings, not helping his cause.

“You can’t let up, especially against that team,” Jackson said. “They’re going to come out swinging.”

And the 13-5 Bravehearts, who extended their first place lead over second place Nashua (12-9) to 2.5 games, did just that to the tune of nine hits. They added a single run in the sixth on an E.J. Exposito RBI double and added three in the seventh to make it a 9-0 game.

Nashua finally showed life with two runs in the ninth on RBI hits by Nick Shumski and Luke Beckstein.

That snapped a 15 inning scoreless streak, believe it or not.

“If we don’t make adjustments at the plate, it’s going to be a long night,” Jackson said, adding that having outfielder Mike Rounds pitch a scoreless ninth may have sparked his team. The manager even tried to get thrown out a couple of times but that didn’t work.

“We all agreed it was a bad day for everybody,” Jackson said. “My motto is win or lose, we’re going to play tomorrow. Erase it, that’s all you can do.”

Jackson insists he doesn’t look at the standings but after 21 games, his team is just one game ahead of 10-9 Brockton, who swept a doubleheader with New Britain Tuesday, for the second playoff spot with 18 games left.

“I don’t care,” Jackson said. “I want these kids to have a good experience, learn something, enjoy the moment, and wherever it stands, it stands.”

And come Thursday night at Holman the Rox will be standing in the visitors dugout for what now looms as a fairly big tilt.

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The Silver Knights were without outfielder and the FCBL’s leading hitter Jared Dupere, who is away for family reasons but should be back after next week’s scout camp break, Jackson said. He’ll be tested when he returns…

Nashua has a number of players hurt, with relievers Brandon Dufault (side), Jack Kramer (bicep-tricep) on the disabled list, and another reliever, Jordan Hiscoe, out with a bad elbow. Outfielder Troy Schreffler, Jr. had to leave last night’ game with a sore back and catcher Ed Jarvis is out with a finger. And staring pitcher Geoff Mosseau is done for the season (elbow).

“I’ll see during the break where everyone is at with injuries,” Jackson said of his mindset before looking to add reinforcements.

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The FCBL announced today NESN is televising three games next month, including a game between Nashua and North Shore on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Holman, likely a 1 p.m. start instead of the original 6 p.m. time. Originally Brockton was to be opponent, but that’s been switched…

Griffin Young, who hasn’t allowed a run in seven relief appearances, makes his first start on the mound for Nashua today at North Shore (6 p.m.), while Pat Harrington (0-1, 3.20) will start Thursday vs. Brockton at 6 at Holman.

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