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Ryan Kalish hits a three-run shot in the seventh to break a tie and lift Portland past Bowie, 4-1.

By DAVID DRIVER, Special to the Press Herald August 15, 2009

BOWIE, Md. — Ryan Kalish of the Portland Sea Dogs entered Friday night's game with a batting average of .190 with runners in scoring position and two outs this season.

Didn't matter.

Kalish launched a three-run homer to right field with two outs in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie as Portland beat Bowie 4-1 before 9,890 on Navy Night to begin a three-game series.

"It may have been ball four," said Kalish, who said he hit a low slider. "I had not been doing much all night (striking out twice). I was trying to get that run in (from third). I put a good swing on it. It was a line drive."

"It was a huge hit for us," said Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler, who was ejected during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh. "They played the percentages by bringing in a left-hander."

Kalish had just two hits in 16 at-bats during the current trip before reaching down and hitting a full-count pitch from Bowie left-handed reliever Ryan Rodriguez. A ninth-round pick in 2006, Kalish was hitting .211 against left-handers before hitting his ninth homer of the year and first with two outs and runners in scoring position in 43 at-bats.

"I haven't been hitting that well lately. It was good to get that win for the team," said Kalish, 21, normally an outfielder in his first Double-A season.

Portland left the bases loaded in the second when Bowie starter Steve Johnson struck out Jason Place and Matt Sheely. But Place hit a solo homer in the fifth to make it 1-1.

Portland (58-59) remained 9 1/2 games back of first-place Connecticut, and a half-game back of New Britain and Trenton for the second playoff spot in the division.

Bowie (61-57) took a 1-0 lead in the third against Portland starter Felix Doubront. Daniel Figueroa doubled with one out and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Josh Bell.

Johnson was acquired with Bell in a deal with the Dodgers that sent Baltimore Orioles closer George Sherrill out west in late July. Johnson allowed one run and four hits in six innings.

It was the first start at Bowie since the trade for Johnson, who was 1-1 in two starts on the road. He was the starter Aug. 8 when the Baysox played Portland at Fenway Park. Ryan Ouellette, who allowed a double to Ryan Khoury to start the seventh and a walk to Sheely, was tagged with the loss.

Doubront, who also started at Fenway, is 7-4. He allowed one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Dustin Richardson pitched a scoreless ninth for the Dogs.

 

NOTES: Portland lost all three games at Bowie in 2008. ... This is the only trip to Bowie this year for the Sea Dogs.