AtL Lancaster Stormers

Henkel, homers pace Barnstormers win

Published on August 3, 2006 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Lancaster slugged three homers, and Rob Henkel weaved his way through 6 2/3 innings Thursday night, leading the Barnstormers to a 5-2 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish as 5,117 looked on at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the win, the Barnstormers (11-7, 49-32) avoided a sweep and recaptured a three-game lead in the Southern Division. Bridgeport (11-7, 49-32) fell back into a tie with Long Island atop the North standings.

With Jutt Hileman at third and one out in the second inning, Manny Santana belted his seventh homer of the season, and first since the All-Star break, over the canopies in right field for a 2-0 lead off T.J. Mathews (9-5). Kris Dufner followed with a blast to right center, his fourth of the year, as Lancaster forged ahead, 3-0.

The third homer was belted by Jeremy Todd, his first at home and third overall, since joining the Barnstormers. It gave Lancaster a 4-1 lead in the third.

Henkel (6-4) had an up-and-down night. After facing just seven batters through the first two innings, the Bluefish loaded the bases off him on two singles and a walk in the third. Deivi Cruz drove in the first Bridgeport run with a sacrifice fly to center as Carlos Rodriguez crossed the plate, and the other runners advanced when Reggie Taylor?s wide throw home skipped away. The Barnstormers opted to intentionally walk Barry Wesson, and Henkel retired P.J. Rose on a fly ball to right to end the inning.

In the fourth, the three outs for Henkel came on a liner to third by Damian Rolls and fly balls to the wall by Steve Hine and Hector Kuilan around a long double by Rodriguez. Deivi Cruz doubled in a run with a long drive to left in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 4-2. Henkel settled down and never allowed another ball to be hit out of the infield.

The left-hander, celebrating his 28th birthday, finished the night allowing six hits and two runs while walking three and striking out five. He handed the ball over to Matt Knox, who worked a scoreless 1 1/3 inning stint, yielding two hits. Charlie Weatherby fired a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

Dufner and Danny Gonzalez produced Lancaster?s final run with doubles to right on consecutive pitches in the seventh.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 3, 2006


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