New Britain shortstop Christian Holmes celebrates after tagging out Nashua's Will MacLean during Friday night's 9-4 Bees win over the Silver Knights at Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The Nashua Silver Knights have enjoyed a lot of prosperity over the last two-plus weeks, a lot of that credited to their pitching.

But one wonders how things will unfold as they lose good pitcher after good pitcher. Friday night, Jonah Wachter left after four innings with a 4-3 lead to please a Holman Stadium fireworks crowd of 2,313. But then he saw it evaporate almost immediately en route to a 9-4 loss to the New Brigan Bees.

And the tough thing is, according to Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson, that was Wachter’s last start for the Knights as the Tulane coaches have shut him down after 45 innings.

Add that another starter, Josh Roberge and closer George Welch now pitching down in the Cape Cod League, and one wonders if the Knights can sustain their prosperity.

“I know he’s upset about it,” Jackson said of Wachter, who uncharacteristically gave up three runs in the first on five hits and an error. “Maybe there was a little more pressure he was putting on himself to do better.

“You can only do what you can do.”

Down 3-0, Nashua was able to bounce back and grab a 4-3 lead in the second on a Jack McDermott two-run double and two-run single by Shane McNamara of Vermont lefty starter and winner John Kiss.

But, the issue of the bullpen, especially with quality starters gone, could become bigger. Brookline’s Brandon Hsu came in to start the fifth, and quickly gave up three runs on two hits – a two run single by Craig Corliss – and a wild pitch. New Britain had a 6-4 lead it wouldn’t relinquish, adding two more on a C.J. Brito-Trinidad two run homer to left off Nashua’s Shea Ryan and another off Avery Mosseau, who otherwise pitched well. Conversely, New Britain pitching retired 11 in a row at one point until Andrew Jemison’s leadoff walk in the ninth.

The 23-19 Knights’ tough luck started with Hsu, who will be a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island and now has an ERA of 6.20. The Knights will need his middle relief going forward, and he seems to be either really on or really off.

“I don’t know,” Jackson said when asked if there was a clear reason for his latest struggle. “I’ll have a talk with him. But he’s thrown the ball well for us through this whole stretch. I’m going to continue to go with him, I have confidence in him.”

Jackson says he has confidence in this whole team, which is understandable after the amazing turnaround from 10-17, including the pitchers who have to fill voids. Nashua will send Brock Pare to the hill tonight vs. Vermont at Holman and then Aiven Cabral on Sunday here at 3 against the same Lake Monsters.

“They’re all stepping up,” Jackson said.

“I told them the goal is to win every week, and we’re 2-1 this week. They give their hearts every night.”

Fatigue is something the manager is worried about, however.

“I just told the guys, winning takes a lot out of you,” Jackson said. “It’s such a grind. My infield has not had a day off in over a week.”

That’s also because former Panthers star Albert De La Rosa, signed a week ago, left the team right after playing just one game. “I don’t know the details,” said Jackson, “but it kind of hurts because Brady (shortstop Desjardins) and Jack (second baseman McDermott) are playing every single day.”

Like he said, winning is a grind,but the Silver Knights will have to grin and bear it.