'Nadoes drop third straight Offense can't get runs home.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Michael Fensom

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. - Staring down another opportunity to notch an uplifting win against the New Jersey Jackals, the Tornadoes instead decided to go quietly into the hot, muggy night.

The Tornadoes lost, 5-2, and have now lost three straight games. Their record in the season's fledgling second half has dropped to 2-3, and the momentum of two dynamic wins at the beginning of the week has been halted once more by the Jackals, a team that had lost three straight before the Tornadoes rolled into Yogi Berra Stadium.

"I think we're in a funk, but good teams can work their way out and stop the bleeding," Tornadoes manager Rich Gedman said, insinuating his team is better than their recent string of results. "This is three losses in a row and we're getting down, after feeling good when we won two.

"Everyone needs to be accountable to end the losing."

The offense deserved the brunt of the blame last night. Arguably the most potent unit in the Can-Am League, the Tornadoes offense was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

The oppressive heat seemed to zap the energy out of the Tornadoes lineup, which was held to just two hits over the first five innings by Jackals starter Aaron Tressler.

The Tornadoes finally put a run on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, but it was a small consolation for another squandered opportunity - and indicative of the Tornadoes' struggles.

B.J. Weed hit a triple off the wall in right field with one out, becoming the third Worcester hitter to reach third base with one out.

In the third inning and again in the fifth, the Tornadoes stranded a runner at third with mostly short, ineffective at-bats.

Omar Pena followed Weed and looped a single to right field on Tressler's first pitch. The RBI briefly energized the Tornadoes. Scott Grimes singled, pushing Pena to third, but Chris Colabello, the league's top run producer, popped up to the shortstop and Alex Trezza...