BOWIE, Md. - Baysox right-hander Steve Johnson tossed 6.0 strong innings, but a three-run blast by Ryan Kalish in the seventh gave Portland a 4-1 win. Center fielder Danny Figueroa and twin brother Paco combined to reach base seven times, but the Baysox could muster hits with runners in scoring position and lost their third straight. The loss drops Bowie to 61-57 on the season, 2.5 games behind Reading for second place in the Southern Division.

“The good thing about baseball is that you get to have a short term memory,” Paco Figueroa said after the game. “We’ve all got to do a better job of getting on and moving runners in.”

Bowie struck for a single run in the bottom of the third inning against Portland starter Felix Doubront. A double into the left field corner by Danny Figueroa got things started with one out. Carlos Rojas followed with an infield single to shortstop, putting runners at the corners for the Baysox hottest hitter, third baseman Josh Bell. The switch hitting Bell lifted a towering fly ball to center, deep enough to score Figueroa from third and give the Baysox a 1-0 lead.

Johnson took the mound in his first start in front of the home fans at Prince George ’s Stadium, allowing one earned run on four hits through 6.0 innings of work. The Kingsville , Md. native walked two and struck out five, receiving praise from Baysox Pitching Coach Larry McCall for his efforts.

“That’s the best start he’s had since getting here,” McCall said. “I thought he got better as the game went on and his last inning he threw some good sliders and changeups.”

After coasting through the first four innings, Johnson made his only mistake of the game to start the fifth. Jason Place took a 3-1 fastball and took it the opposite way for his second home run of the season. His first home run of the season came five days earlier against Johnson at the Futures at Fenway game in Boston .

“Some guys just have your number,” Johnson said. “I have just got to get ahead of him, that’s something I haven’t done both times he hit the home run.”

Johnson added that he feels home coming back to Maryland . He is quickly becoming familiar with pressure situations, as his last start came in front of more than 35,000 people at Fenway Park . Johnson’s home debut tonight at Prince George ’s Stadium came in front of 9,890 fans on Navy Night, the biggest home crowd for the Baysox this season.

“It’s been great to pitch in both of those games in front of the fans,” he said, noting that he also had countless family and friends on hand to watch him. “Seeing all those Navy guys back there and my family and friends, you get more amped up to play in those games.”

Right-hander Ryan Ouellette came on in relief of Johnson to start the seventh inning, allowing a leadoff double to Ryan Khoury to start the frame. After striking out Place for the first out of the inning, Ouellette issued a free pass to the ninth hitter Matt Sheely. After Sheely was thrown out trying to steal second, Ouellette walked Iggy Suarez to put runners at the corners again with two outs. Left-hander Ryan Rodriguez came on to replace Ouellette, setting up a lefty-lefty matchup with Kalish. The Portland designated hitter worked the count full before smashing a curveball over the wall in right for his ninth home run of the season.

That was all the Sea Dogs would need, keeping the Baysox off the board the rest of the way. Left-hander Dustin Richardson earned his fourth save of the season, walking a batter in the ninth before slamming the door.

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