Baysox Notebook: Bowie Begins Battle for First Place Monday Night

Just four weeks ago, nothing seemed to be going right for Bowie.

With their , the Baysox had dropped six of their last seven games, slipped to two games under .500 (37-39) and had fallen seven games back of Harrisburg for first place in the Eastern League’s Western Division.

Yet, less a month later, Bowie has done a complete 180.

Although they fell to , Sunday night, the Baysox (55-44) are 17-5 in July, including 14-3 in their last 17 games, and are now just a half-game back of Harrisburg for first place in the Western Division, and begin a three-game series with the Senators tonight at 7:05.

GUERRERO, IZTURIS MAKE BAYSOX DEBUTS

Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero and shortstop Cesar Izturis, both on rehab assignments from the Baltimore Orioles, were assigned to Bowie last week.

Izturis, who has been on the disabled list since undergoing elbow surgery in May, is just 1-for-8 thus far with the Baysox. Guerrero, meanwhile, who was placed on the disabled list July 17 due to a broken bone in his right hand, was 1-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday’s loss to Trenton.

KLEIN PROGRESSING

Although he still hasn’t been cleared to begin a throwing program, and says there is no timetable on when he will, injured Bowie relief pitcher Dan Klein tells MASN’s Steve Melewski that he’s optimistic he’ll pitch again before the end of the season.

Klein, who has been out since June 1 with a SLAP tear in his right shoulder, has spent the last four weeks rehabbing in Sarasota, FL.

The 22-year old Klein, the Orioles’ third-round pick in 2010, was 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA, 37 strikeouts and just six walks in 16 appearances with Single-A Frederick and Bowie prior to getting hurt.