Steve Johnson on his return, Bowie is in the playoffs and O's lose again

Right-hander Steve Johnson was back in the Orioles clubhouse yesterday. He has had a very strong season with Triple-A Norfolk and is expected to be added by the Orioles as rosters can be expanded today.

Johnson went 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 32 appearances with the Tides, with 16 walks and 67 strikeouts over 54 2/3 innings. He held left-handed batters to a .197 average and right-handed hitters to a .237 average.

Johnson, whose last major league appearance came on Sept. 27, 2013, underwent surgery last Sept. 24 to shave a bone spur behind his right shoulder. Now he is looking to re-establish that he can pitch - and pitch well - in the big leagues.

"Of course," he said. "The last year or so was really frustrating for me with injuries and not pitching well. Proving I can be back here would mean a lot. You know if you pitch well long enough, you'll get that call. I want to pitch here. That is the main thing and why I signed back (with the Orioles in the winter). They've liked me when I've pitched well and they know what I can do up here. Just have to go out and do it."

Since June 1, Johnson has gone 3-0 with an 0.91 ERA in 16 Triple-A games. He has recorded 31 strikeouts while issuing just six walks during that span, over which he's held International League batters to a .158 average.

"Last year, I kind of lost my fastball a little bit," Johnson said. "That sneaky fastball with command is my main pitch. Kind of got it back now and am throwing that with my off-speed pitches and I've just been in a nice groove."

Baysox are playoff-bound: The Orioles could have as many as three minor league affiliates make the playoffs. After last night, Double-A Bowie is in.

The Baysox clinched their sixth playoff berth in the franchise's 23-year history and first since 2012 with a 7-4 comeback win over the Altoona Curve. The Baysox rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the win after falling behind 4-3 in the top of the eighth.

Trey Mancini hit a solo homer in the win, his 20th between Single-A Frederick and Bowie. During the rally in the eighth inning, Drew Dosch singled in two runs and Glynn Davis knocked in another run. The Baysox now set their sights on winning a division title. With a magic number of three to do that, Bowie is closing in on its first division crown since 2008.

Triple-A Norfolk lost at home 3-1 to Charlotte last night. The Tides have lost 10 of 13 games, but second-place Gwinnett also lost. So Norfolk still leads its division by three games with eight left, with a magic number of six to clinch first place.

Short season Single-A Aberdeen lost 5-2 in 13 innings to Vermont. At 35-34, the IronBirds are 1 1/2 games back of co-leaders Hudson Valley and Staten Island in their division.

Another loss for the Orioles: Heading into September last year, the Orioles were running away with the American League East. They led the division by nine games. Today they are in fourth place, 11 games out of first place and just two games ahead of last-place Boston.

With five losses in a row and 11 in the last 12 games, the Orioles have fallen to 63-68. They have been as many as six games under .500 this year and they would reach that low-water mark with a loss tonight.

The Orioles have scored just 10 runs during the five straight losses, three runs or less in 11 of the last 12 games and just 28 runs their past 13 losses.

Orioles players have said there is still time left and that one win or one big hit could turn things. And while there is maybe some truth to that, the bigger reality right now is the Orioles are much closer to last place then the playoffs right now.