Telegraph photo by TOM KING The ball bounces away from Nashua Silver Knights catcher Dom Keegan as North Shore's Ben Malgeri slides home for the first of only two runs the Navs would get in a 10-2 Knights win at Holman Stadium Monday night.

NASHUA – Nick Guarino wasn’t happy.

His manager, Kyle Jackson, was strolling out to the mound and his teammates were lining up in congratulatory formation in front of the dugout, a sure sign he was getting the hook in the top of the seventh with a runner on and two out.

“I was kind of looking at him, ‘What’s the move?’ Guarino said after Nashua’s 10-2 win over North Shore on Monday night at Holman Stadium. “And he was ‘You’re going to get this guy (the Navs’ Alex Haba) out?’ I said, yeah, we got it. And he said ‘This is your last guy no matter what.'”

Ironically, Silver Knights center fielder Troy Schreffler junior made perhaps the catch of the season in the right center gap to end the inning and Guarino’s night in style.

Normally a reliever for Nashua – but a starter at Clark University — he allowed just the two runs, only one earned, on five hits while fanning four and striking out two to improve to 3-0. Nothing fancy, just basic pitching. And that earned run was his first allowed all season (0.50).

“I just wanted to let him know it was his last batter,” Jackson said. “Go get ’em.”

Guarino did just that throughout the game. Jackson was hoping for four innings and he got seven. “He was in a rhythm,” he said. “He was in the zone, kept all their hitters off balance. He made them put it in play, and when he had an opportunity to get a strikeout, he went for it. He didn’t change anything (from reliever). I told him there’s no pressure, be who you are and have fun with it.”

The rest of the Knights did the same thing as they pounded North Shore pitching for 13 hits. Dom Keegan went 2 for 4, including a two-run homer in the eighth, driving in four runs. He now has seven homers and a league high 36 RBIs.

Milford’s Brett Anderson hit a two-run shot in the fourth to make it a 5-1 game. Nashua started things with a three-run third with consecutive RBI hits by Shreffler, Jared Dupere and Keegan.

It was a feel good Monday after a tough loss Sunday.

“Defense came, offense came, everything came together,” Jackson said. “They’re usually really good after a loss. They don’t like losing. They take it to heart.”

The bounce back puts the Silver Knights (19-12) back in a virtual first place tie with Worcester atop the FCBL, and they push the Navs (14-16) back to 4.5 games out of that last playoff spot. Plus they gained a half game on idle Brockton, as the Rox are now 4 back. Nashua has just eight games left.

The tone, though, was set by the 5-foot-8 Guarino, who was lifted up by teammate Joe Quintal after the game. Lights out as a reliever, and he was that way last night as a starter.

“Basically the same preparation, same mentality, not trying to do too much,” Guarino said. “Obviously, just trust our defense, trust our stuff, trust in Keegan behind the plate. And our bats are going to take us anywhere we want to go.”

The price was giving up his first earned run of the season, that coming in the sixth on an RBI ground out off the bat of North Shore’s Jack Whorf.

“I definitely got some heat for that one,” Guarino said. “What are you going to do? I’m all right with that. Two runs is fine with me any day.”

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The Silver Knights roster is set, as Monday was the last day for any additions. The team didn’t make any new ones, as this past week they brought in pitcher Jack Thibault and first baseman Kyle Bouchard.

“This is the final roster,” Jackson said, knowing he may lose Keegan, reliever Steve Miller, and the Kansas State bound Luke Beckstein and Brady Day before the playoffs. “If some reason they can stay, they’ll stay.”

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Josh Roberge gets the nod seeking his first win (0-1, 4.64) tonight at New Britain, with Jack Dicenso (2-0, 5.40) going Wednesday vs. the Bees at Holman….

Jackson said the struggling Quintal will still pitch Friday at Brockton, but he plans on giving him an inning of relief in a day or two as a confidence builder. “I told him I see two different Quintals from last year to this year,” he said. “Last year, you had no fear. This year, you just look like you’re pitching in fear. … I want you to air it out, let it go, and be you.”…

North Shore manager Bob Macaluso was tossed in the sixth arguing a hit by pitch call.