'Nadoes jump-start their big week; Home run barrage, Weed snag back a solid effort by Guerrero.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Jennifer Toland

WORCESTER - The Tornadoes started their big week with a bang.

Worcester clubbed three home runs - Francisco Caraballo, Scott Grimes and Chuck Jeroloman doing the damage - and pounded the Surf, 8-2, last night at Hanover Insurance Park.

It was the first of a four-game series against second-half Can-Am League leader Atlantic City, and the Tornadoes closed within two games of the Surf in the standings. First-half champ and overall leader Quebec arrives Friday for a four-game set.

Lifeless in Sunday's 9-2 loss to Nashua, the Tornadoes collected 13 hits off Atlantic City pitchers Brian Rodaway and Justin Redwine.

"I thought it was awesome," center fielder B.J. Weed said. "We showed we can come back and win games especially against a good team like this."

Worcester right-hander Junior Guerrero (6-4) picked up his second straight win. Coming off his best outing of the season, a seven-inning, scoreless effort against Sussex last Wednesday, Guerrero allowed two earned runs, both in the second inning, on six hits against the Surf. He struck out the side in order in the fourth and retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. He struck out five and walked three.

Eddie Pena and Anthony Sullivan combined to shut down the Surf the rest of the way. Atlantic City had been hitting .314 in its previous 10 games.

"Junior, he was awesome," Weed said. "They score two quick runs off him and he's a bulldog. He comes right back and shuts them down."

Grimes drove in three runs and took over the team lead with his 13th home run. The two-run blast to left put the Tornadoes up, 6-2, in the fourth. Grimes also had a run-scoring single in the sixth.

"It's good to come out here and swing it well for the fans and for us," Grimes said.

Grimes, the Tornadoes' leading hitter at .373, was 3 for 5. Caraballo also had a three-hit night.

In the second, Caraballo hit his 12th home run with Jeroloman aboard to give Worcester its first runs of the game. Jeroloman hit a solo homer, his sixth of the season, in the fifth.

Atlantic City left-handed starter Rodaway yielded all three home runs. He had allowed just five homers in his previous 15 starts this year. The Tornadoes also beat Rodaway June 22 at Bernie Robbins Stadium.

Offense wasn't the only story last night.

With the bases loaded, two outs and two Surf...