Nashua's Lucas Carmichael scores in the sixth inning as the ball bounces away from Worcester catcher Michael Chaves, Jr. during the Silver Knights big 3-2 win Sunday at Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The heat was on at Holman Stadium, and it seemed even hotter after the Nashua Silver Knights had blown a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning against their finals foe, the Worcester Bravehearts.

Not to worry. Kyle Hannon to the rescue.

Hannon’s opposite field looper inside the left field foul line plated Mike Maher from second with the winning run in a 3-2 walkoff triumph over the ‘Hearts, giving Nashua its first winning streak (a modest two) of the season.

“He brings a different energy,” Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson said. “I think the team was lacking it before he got here. He wants to win, and competes in every at bat and out on the field. I think it’s his first time playing center, a new thing for him. But it’s the little spark that we needed.”

Hannon, a Harrisburg, Pa. Native who just finished his freshman season at Penn State, has plenty of energy and uses it to fire up his teammates. He talks the talk but also walks the walk, and after his hit off Worcester reliever Ryan O’Donnell, he was running to first and then to the outfield to be showered by Gatorade.

“He started me off with two balls in the at-bat, the fastball came and I just jumped on it,” Hannon said. “He (Jackson) has been preaching opposite way the whole season.”

Maher drew a one-out walk and stole second to set up Hannon’s heroics. You can’t script it any better with two straight wins for the 3-5 Knights to take into a rare two straight days off before they return to Holman for their seventh straight home game, vs. Norwich.

“We’ve got a good win streak going,” Hannon said. “The boys are buzzing, feeling good right now. Let’s keep this thing rolling.”

It just as easily could have been a deflating loss. Nashua, on the strength of two Craig Corliss RBI singles (second, and sixth innings), led 2-1 and were one out away from the win when Worcester’s Dakota Harris greeted reliever Ryan Murphy by hitting a rope inches past the glove of diving Knights first baseman Sam LaChance with a man on to knot things at 2. It seemed Nashua was all set for the win after its previous reliever, lefty Noah Wachter (Concord, Plymouth State) picked off Worcester’s Michael Perales at first for the second out of the inning but Nick Martin gave the Bravehearts (5-4) life with a two-out bloop hit.

Enter Murphy, whose presence had the switch-hitting Harris hitting from the right side.

“I think Harris is a better hitter from the left side, so I wanted him to stay (right handed),” Jackson said. “And LaChance had a chance for it.”

But again, Hannon followed the script.

“We gave up a ton of (opposite field hits) against them the other day,” Jackson said. “Little ducks. It’s going to come around. But the kids have, in their last two games with their approaches – laying off the off-speed pitches, going the other way, taking balls up the middle.”

Meanwhile, the situation in the top of the ninth begged for a closer, but Jackson hasn’t decided who that would be as of yet as he is trying to get to know his long list of pitchers.

“I’m seeing what I have,” Jackson said. “I’m giving everyone an opportunity.”

And this was an opportunity seized for Nashua going into a mini-break.

“It’s good for these guys to have a little momentum going into a break,” he said, “and for these guys to come out feeling good.”

XXXXXX

The team will have Monday completely off but will take batting practice early Tuesday….

Nashua starting pitcher Nick Remy of Atkinson lasted only one inning, because he fell ill and had to be replaced by Shea Ryan to start the second. Ryan tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits while striking out six. “He was huge,” Jackson said…

Wonder where Nashua Opening Night starter Nick Guarino has been? He left for a wedding in Texas, Jackson said, but is due to return this week.