Baysox Notebook: Bowie Prepping for Three-Game Series with Eastern Division Leading New Hampshire

Although its offense is still struggling, Bowie has won four of its last six games, including two straight, heading into tonight’s matchup with New Hampshire, the beginning of a three-game series.

The Fisher Cats (35-21), who took two of three from the Baysox in early May, are tied for first place, with Trenton, in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Bowie (28-30) currently sits in fourth place in the Western Division, trailing first place Harrisburg by five games.

New Hampshire is second in the Eastern League in runs per game (4.96) and leads the league in stolen bases (65). The Fisher Cats’ pitching staff also leads the league with seven shutouts.

6-foot-1, 260-pound first baseman Mike McDade, a sixth-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007, leads New Hampshire in batting average (.321), among players who have seen action in at least five games, as well in doubles (20). McDade, who is only 22 years old, also ranks second on the team in home runs (7) and runs batted in (36).

The Baysox, meanwhile, are last in the Eastern League in runs per game (3.28) and second to last in both team batting average (.231) and on-base percentage (.305).

Bowie has been held to four runs or less in 20 of its last 24 games, including three runs or less in 17 of those games, and hasn’t scored more than seven runs in a game since May 6.

KLEIN HEADED TO DISABLED LIST

According to Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com, Baysox right-handed reliever Dan Klein is expected to be placed on the seven-day disabled list due to soreness in his right shoulder.

Klein, who was promoted from Single-A Frederick in early May, is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in nine appearances with Bowie. The 2010 third-round pick was 0-1 with a 1.15 ERA in seven appearances with the Keys prior to being promoted. In 32 combined innings, between Frederick and Bowie, Klein has recorded 37 strikeouts and just six walks.

MAHONEY NEARING RETURN

Melewski also reports that first baseman Joe Mahoney, the Orioles’ 2010 Minor League Player of the Year, could be close to returning from the disabled list. He has been out since May 3 with a quad injury, which had also sidelined him for 14 games in April.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Mahoney, hit .319 with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 29 RBI in 52 games with the Baysox last season after being promoted from Single-A Frederick.