Nashua Silver Knights starter Aiven Cabral didn't allow an earned run in an impressive five innings of work on Sunday. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – What’s different about these Nashua Silver Knights in the last week?

Look no further than Sunday’s starting pitcher Aiven Cabral.

Cabral, the incoming Northeastern University freshman from Lynn, Mass., was racked in that 11-1 loss to Worcester in the first game of a doubleheader, allowing six runs (although just two earned) on eight hits in just 1.2 innings.

His earned run average after that was 6.35.

After not allowing an earned run in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Norwich, the team’s sixth straight, his ERA is now 3.38.

Now that’s a turnaround.

“Really, I just tried to learn from my last outings,” said Cabral, who didn’t find out until Saturday he’d get the nod to start yesterday’s game. “Just spot up, make good pitches in important moments and let my defense help me out.”

That defense did that in a few instances, but also an errant throw in a double play attempt plated Norwich’s only run in the third. Cabral actually had just one one-two-three inning, the first, but was an escape artist the rest of the way.

“Aiven came in and gave us a great five innings, especially after his last performance,” Jackson said. “So it was good to see him have some success.”

What did he do differently?

“He got ahead,” Jackson said. “He used his fastball a lot more, and worked in and out, which plays off his off-speeds, but I don’t think he threw too many off-speeds.

“By getting ahead, it made them swing the bat earlier, which gave him the opportunity to go into the fifth.”

With two on and two out in the second he caught Norwich catcher Ben Jerome looking. After the Sea Unicorns (17-17) scored their only run, he did the same to Matt Flaherty with a man on second.

He retired three straight after a leadoff double in the fourth, and corrected his own mistake by tagging out Norwich runner Zac Zyons at the plate, after Zyons was trying to score on a wild pitch but Nashua catcher Kyle Lavigne flipped the ball to his pitcher in time.

“Was just going to attack early, rely on off-speed if I needed it but really just kind of relied on the fastball,” Cabral said.

And his team is now different, too.

“We just have more energy, more fire and getting more hits in the more important spots and getting the hits when we need to,” Cabral said.

SEVEN FRAMES ON THE FOURTH

Today marks the Silver Knights first ever July 4th game at Holman Stadium, and the first game by a tenant at the historic facility since the Nashua Pride played a day game on the Fourth in 2001.

It will be a seven-inning affair vs. the Worcester Bravehearts starting at 11 a.m., and will also be televised on Nashua ETV.

The game is being shortened so that the other activities usually held at Holman on the Fourth can take place and the field can be readied for the city’s annual fireworks show.

Shea Ryan gets the start for the Knights.

TUESDAY OFF

Since the Knights and the entire FCBL usually get Monday off, they’ll all take Tuesday off before getting back at it Wednesday (all league teams are in action today).

After that, get used to the league’s best team, the Lake Monsters. Nashua will head back to Vermont’s Centennial Field, where it just won two straight, on Wednesday evening before playing the Monsters Thursday and Friday night at Holman.

HONORS FOR WOLFF, WACHTER

Nashua first baseman Kyle Wolff was the FCBL’s Player of the Night Saturday as he went 4 for 5 with three doubles and started the game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth with a single. Game starter Jonah Wachter, meanwhile, was the Pitcher of the Night. Although he wasn’t involved in the decision, Wachter allowed one unearned run in six innings on four hits, walking one while striking out six Pittsfield hitters.

JACKSON IN TIME OUT

Jackson won’t be managing today, as he’s serving a one-game suspension for getting tossed in Saturday’s win over a call at home plate. First base coach Brendan Martin will serve as acting manager, while coach Spencer Bergeron will handle the pitchers.