'Nadoes lose fifth straight.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Rick Eggleston

WORCESTER - The September slump continues.

The Worcester Tornadoes returned home to Hanover Insurance Park last night, poised to snap their four-game losing streak.

Instead, the Tornadoes still are searching for their first win of the month after falling to the Brockton Rox, 8-4, in front of 2,415 fans.

Tornadoes starter Chris Farley was a last-minute scratch from the lineup as manager Rich Gedman went with lefty ace Ryan Lobban.

With Worcester clinching a Can-Am League postseason berth last week, the sudden move was an effort to set the pitching rotation for Wednesday's home playoff opener against New Jersey.

The Tornadoes (21-23) couldn't get anything going against Rox right-hander Freddy Flores, who threw 7-1/3 innings of seven-hit ball to improve to 6-5.

"Freddy was great tonight. He's a 34-year-old rookie and former positional player," Brockton manager Chris Carminucci said. "He's been throwing great his last few outings."

Rox reliever Keith Noe quelled Worcester's one-out, bases-loaded uprising in the eighth, when the Tornadoes cut the deficit to two runs.

Derek Kinzler went 4 for 5 with a home run and double and four runs scored to pace the Brockton attack.

"Usually, Melvin (Falu) is in there but he's dealing with some family matters, so we threw Derek in there before the game," said Carminucci, whose team will face Quebec in the first round of the playoffs. "He did a great job."

Chris Valencia's two-run triple highlighted a three-run ninth inning for Brockton (27-17)...