'Nadoes slip in clutch.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Darren Desaulniers

OTTAWA - Their 7-1 loss to the Ottawa Rapidz yesterday may have stung a little more had the Worcester Tornadoes been outplayed. The fact of the matter is the game was much closer than the score would indicate.

Both teams only had six hits, but the Rapidz made theirs count. The Tornadoes spent much of the afternoon hitting the ball right at people and taking themselves out of potential rallies.

"We had the same situations they did, they just got the big hits and we hit line drives at people with guys in scoring position," center fielder B.J. Weed said. "We swung the bats well today but a lot of balls were at people and we got into a couple double plays when we had guys in scoring situations, but we'll be all right."

Scott Grimes hit the ball well to open the game, taking a 3-1 offering from Rapidz starter Noel Baca (3-10) over the left-field wall. The Tornadoes sent 34 men to the plate after that, but none were able to cross it.

The Rapidz, meanwhile, scored a run in the first on a wild pitch by starter Kyle Jackson. They added two runs in the third on three singles and...