Chris Gimenez homered and drove in both Akron runs but an early six-run deficit was too much to overcome as Bowie triumphed 6-2 before 7,881 fans at Prince George’s Stadium Saturday night. The Baysox improved to 16-13 while the Aeros slipped to 12-16.

Bowie never trailed in the contest, striking for a run in the bottom of the first on a leadoff triple by Freddie Bynum and a sacrifice fly from Lou Montanez. Nolan Reimold led off the second with a solo home run to right-center, and the Baysox then tacked on two more runs in the third. Bynum and Carlos Rojas reached to start the inning, and Montanez then drove a double into the right field corner. Bynum scored easily while Rojas held at third, but Ryan Goleski’s throw rolled away from Brandon Chaves as Rojas scooted home as well. The Sox pushed the advantage to 6-0 in the fourth on Bynum’s two-run double.

Akron got on the board in the fifth as Wes Hodges led off with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on Gimenez’s sacrifice fly. Gimenez then cut the deficit to 6-2 with a solo homer to left-center in the seventh, his third bomb of the year. The Aeros made thing interesting in the top of the ninth as Matt Whitney led off with a single and Hodges was grazed by a pitch, meaning the potential tying run was on deck. The Baysox summoned Kam Mickolio out of the bullpen however, and he induced a 6-4-3 double play from Stephen Head to douse the fire.

Jason Berken (2-2) got the win for Bowie, holding the Aeros to a run on five hits over six innings. Frank Herrmann (3-2) struggled with his command all night in the defeat, giving up all six runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings. Mickolio notched his first save of the year. Hodges and Josh Rodriguez both had two hits apiece for the offense.

The series concludes Sunday at 2:05 p.m., as Akron sends left-hander Ryan Edell (1-1, 3.45 ERA) to the hill against Bowie’s Chris Tillman (2-0, 2.91 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.