'Nadoes can't hold off Rox.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Steve Farley

WORCESTER - Brockton's 8-5, come-from-behind win last night over the Worcester Tornadoes at Hanover Insurance Park proved how resilient the second-place Rox are.

The Tornadoes led, 4-0, through five innings and starting pitcher Baron Short was working on a one-hitter.

Brockton's designated hitter Palmer Karr then blasted a three-run homer, his 19th, over the left field fence to cut Worcester's lead to 4-3 through six. In the seventh, the Rox took the lead for good after No. 9 batter Chris Grossman delivered a three-run double off reliever Santiago Ramirez.

Nick Conway (2-4) started the seventh, but gave up singles to Jud Thigpen and Phillip Cuadrado and hit Derek Kinzler with a pitch to load the bases.

Brockton improved to 19-13, 45-33 overall.

After Brockton starter Jeff Long got knocked around for five runs (four earned) in 52/3 innings, relievers Keith Noe (2-2), Stevie Delabar and Jerry Dunn (19th save) combined for 31/3 shut out innings, not allowing any hits and just two base runners.

The Tornadoes got both those runners in the eighth, when lead-off batter Lucas Taylor reached on a catcher's interference and Omar Pena walked with two outs in the, but Dunn, got Carlos Sosa to pop up as Rox shortstop Dominic Ramos made a sensational sliding catch in foul ground.

Nearly 24 hours earlier, the Tornadoes scored four times in the bottom of the ninth to win.

"I don't have time to be pouting and hanging my head because we've got a game tomorrow," said an optimistic Lucas Taylor of last night's loss which put the Tornadoes (17-15, 39-39...