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Viera, Keegan pace Silver Knights’ big win over Brockton

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jul 31, 2020

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua's Nick Shumski steals second against an off-balance Brockton infielder Pat DeSalvo during the Silver Knights' 6-3 comeback win Thursday night at Holman Stadium.

NASHUA – Deuces were wild for Nashua Silver Knights shortstop Max Viera on Thursday night.

The incoming Northeastern University freshman had two homers in, yes, two different uniforms. He was also charged with two errors, but no harm, no foul in a big 6-3 win over the Brockton Rox at Holman Stadium.

“It was a good night tonight, I felt good,” said Viera, who had to change uniforms after suffering a bloody nose due to a rundown collision as he tagged out Brockton’s Joel Lara. “After I got hit in the face, it just kind of had me thinking anything. I was just clear minded the whole game and happy we got the win.”

After his first error in the fourth helped Brockton grab a 3-1 lead, he got one run back with a solo homer into the left field picnic area in the bottom half of the inning.

After Dom Keegan’s triple and Lucas Stallman’s sac fly gave Nashua a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, Viera , now wearing jersey 29 instead of 1, boomed a two-run shot to give closer Chris Chaney a three-run cushion for the ninth.

“I was looking for fastballs,” Viera said. “If they’re in my zone, I’ve got to take care of it. I’m just looking in my zone, if I get it in my zone, I’ll take care of it.”

“He had a great game,” Jackson said. “It shows the character he has, an error cost a run and he comes back and hits a solo shot that brings us to within one. And then a two-run shot at the end to give us a little cushion.

“For a young kid to have that mentality is great.”

It was a huge win, because it opens up a two-game lead for the Knights (14-9) over the Rox (11-10) for the second of two playoff spots. And it brought Nashua a to within a half game of first place as Worcester (13-7) fell to New Britain.

“We’re resilient,” Jackson said. “Our guys come to play every day. When you hit the seventh, eighth, or ninth we’re going to own it. Down one or tied, we’re going to come back.”

They got that tying run on a Keegan RBI single in the fifth. Brockton had gotten eight hits in 4.2 innings off starter Pat Harrington, the key one a solo homer by catcher Cal Christofori in that two-run fourth.

But, while Harrington did what he could to minimize the damage, Knights lefty reliever Nick Guarino slammed the door shut with 31/3 of scoreless relief to pick up the win (2-0). The Clark senior has not allowed an earned run in 8.2 innings, with 11 strikeouts.

“Guarino came in and he picked us up big time,” Jackson said. “Four innings,couple pickoffs, he just gets out, which is great.”

Keegan had two hits and two RBIs, while Ben Rounds and Nick Shumski also had two hits.

But they all did that in one uniform. Viera, who is hitting .342 on the year, did it in two, bloodied but unbowed.

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John Mead went 5 for 6 in Nashua’s big win over North Shore on Wednesday, but was not in the lineup Thursday, asking for the night off.

“He needed a day off,” Jackson said. “He’s been playing in left, DHing, I haven’t been able to give him the time off, and he asked for it.” Jackson said Keegan will have tonight off at North Shore.

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Jack Dicenso (1-0, 6.75) takes the mound tonight at Fraser Field at 6. Saturday vs. Worcester at Leominster’s Doyle Field – originally Brockton was to be the opponent – will be either Hunter Owen (0-0, 11.04) or Bedford’s Joe Quintal (0-2, 5.65)…

Nashua is off on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but will have a makeup game vs. North Shore at Fraser Field on Wednesday at 6 p.m., after the Scout Day workout there earlier in the day.

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