'Nadoes nibble but fail to bite.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: John McGuirk

WORCESTER - The Worcester Tornadoes have to wonder if they're ever going to catch a break.

Once again, the Tornadoes received solid pitching against Quebec, but the timely hit they continue to search for wasn't to be found as the Capitales held on for a 4-3 victory yesterday before 1,538 at Hanover Insurance Park.

Worcester certainly had the offense (10 hits), but failed to come up with the big hit when it was needed.

"We had a couple of opportunities, but couldn't get that big hit," Tornadoes manager Rich Gedman said. "It's a day game after a night game. There were some close opportunities, but you have to get a big hit when you need it."

Trailing, 4-1, going into the bottom of the fifth, the Tornadoes (25-36) scratched and clawed against Quebec starter Michel Simard (6-2/3 innings, 3 runs, 10 hits, 8 Ks), scoring on Billy Cather's double and Boomer Blanchard's RBI single up the middle.

The Tornadoes pushed across another run in the seventh to pull within, 4-3. Cather opened with a single, but Simard struck out the next two batters. However, Blanchard (3 for 4) kept the inning alive with a single and Chris Colabello's bloop hit to center drove in Cather.

Simard was...