Baysox Notebook: Bowie's Bats Try To Awaken

The Bowie Baysox remain in the hunt for the Western Division’s two playoff spots, something that’s very impressive considering the offensive problems the team’s been battling all season.

After at Prince George’s Stadium, Bowie sits next-to-last in the Eastern League with a .234 team batting average. The Baysox have struggled hitting with runners in scoring position all season long.

Still, they’re right in the fight for the top spots in the division. After Thursday’s win, the Baysox have a record of 34-32 and are just three games behind Harrisburg in the tight Western Division. The top two teams in each division make the two-round playoffs at season’s end.

But even in Thursday’s win, Bowie still had a little trouble. The Baysox got just eight hits while scoring the eight runs. Bowie got a five-run first inning but came up with some key hits later.

The Baysox also are next-to-last in the Eastern League with extra-base hits, but came up with some big ones, including Buck Britton’s three-run double in the first.

“They swung the bat well from beginning to end,” said Bowie manager Gary Kendall. “The big thing was in that five-run first that we were able to mix in a couple of walks, and we had some extra-base hits. Sometimes we look over there, and they have a lot of extra-base hits while we have a lot of singles, so finally tonight we were fortunate to deliver some extra-base hits.”

 TIME TO FLY

Right-hander Steve Johnson is really taking off. He’s improved to 5-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts for Bowie this season.

The son of former Oriole pitcher Dave Johnson, Steve Johnson, who turns 24 later this summer, is having one of his best seasons.

He’s avoided the control troubles that plagued him at times last year. Johnson’s struck out 59 and walked only 15 so far.

The right-hander also had two starts for Norfolk at Triple-A earlier this year and struggled, but don’t be surprised if he gets back there again at some point later this season.

 UP NEXT

Bowie heads to Richmond this weekend for a three-game series as part of a grueling end to the month of June.

The Baysox end the month with 16 out of 22 games on the road, something that will test this team. But the team's good pitching should help.

The schedule is nicer in July as Bowie has 15 out of 22 games at home later in the month.