Encarnacion homers, drives in 4 as Indians pound Blue Jays 13-3

CLEVELAND — Edwin Encarnacion homered and drove in four runs against his former team, and the Cleveland Indians broke open a close game with an eight-run seventh inning to rout the Toronto Blue Jays 13-3 on Friday.

Encarnacion, who played the last six seasons with Toronto before signing a three-year, $60-million US contract with Cleveland in January, hit a leadoff home run in the second, broke a 3-all tie in the fifth with a two-run double and added an RBI single in the seventh.

Encarnacion was 3 for 4 with a walk and nearly added to his total later in the seventh, but centre fielder Kevin Pillar tracked down his fly ball on the warning track with two runners on.

Abraham Almonte hit a three-run homer and rookie Bradley Zimmer added a two-run single in the seventh as the Indians won for just the second time in eight games.

Trevor Bauer (8-8) allowed three runs in five innings. The right-hander lasted only 2⁄3 of an inning.

Marco Estrada (4-7) gave up five runs in 42⁄3 innings and hasn’t won since May 27. Jose Morales, Ryan Goins and Justin Smoak drove in runs for Toronto, which took a 3-1 lead into the fifth before Cleveland scored four times.

Almonte led off with a triple and Roberto Perez walked. Erik Gonzalez’s single cut the lead to 3-2 and Francisco Lindor drew a oneout walk to load the bases. Michael Brantley’s RBI fielder’s choice tied the game.

Brantley stole second and Encarnacion lined a 3-2 pitch to the gap in left-centre giving Cleveland the lead.

Encarnacion has hit 20 home runs in six consecutive seasons and has homered against all 30 major league teams.