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Sports

Baysox Notebook: Pitching Fueling Baysox

Bowie has won two of its last three games after losing five in a row.

As Bowie’s offense continues to struggle, its pitching continues to excel.

The Baysox have limited four of their last five opponents to four runs or less, including each of their last three.

Bowie starter Steve Johnson yielded just two runs on one hit as the Baysox beat Richmond, and Rick Zagone, Dan Klein and Jose Diaz combined to allow just one earned run on three hits in Wednesday’s, 3-2, win against the Flying Squirrels. Zach Clark limited Richmond to just two earned runs in eight innings of work Thursday, but got no run support as the Baysox fell, 4-0.

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Bowie ranks first in the Eastern League (out of 12 teams) in WHIP - walks and hits per innings pitched – (1.21) and third in ERA (3.39).

Johnson is 4-1 and ranks second among starters in the Eastern League in both ERA (2.02) and WHIP (0.90). He has recorded 48 strikeouts, while surrendering only 13 walks, in 49 innings of work. Clark (5-4, 3.97 ERA) is tied for third in the league in wins. He has held opponents to three runs or less in eight of his 10 starts, including four of his last five.

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Meanwhile, relievers Cole McCurry (3-0, 0.32 ERA), Dan Klein (3-0, 1.08), Nick Bierbrodt (0-0, 1.17) and Jose Diaz (0-2, 1.54) all own ERA’s of 1.54 or better. Diaz leads the Eastern League with 17 saves.

Pedro Viola, who was 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 17 appearances with the Baysox, tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, no-hit ball for the Orioles, against the Mariners, Monday. The 27-year old Viola was promoted to the major league level last week.

WARING SLUMPING

Infielder Brandon Waring has only one hit in his last 13 plate appearances and is batting just .108 (4-of-37) during his last 10 games.

Waring, who was the Carolina League MVP at Single-A Frederick in 2009 and hit 22 home runs for Bowie last season, is hitting a meager .165 with just four home runs through 46 games this year. He has struck out 51 times while walking just 14.

LEE ASSIGNED TO BOWIE

Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee joined the Baysox for last night’s game against New Britain as part of a Major League rehab assignment.

Lee, who has been on the disabled list since May 17 with a strained oblique, has hit .231 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 40 games with the Orioles this season.

The 35-year old has batted .281 with 316 home runs and 1,033 RBI in 15 major league seasons. He slugged a career-best 46 home runs with the Cubs in 2005.

The 6-foot-5, 240 pounder signed a one-year contract with the Orioles during this past offseason.

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