Indians slugger Encarnacion out with ankle injury

Cleveland Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion sustained a potentially serious right ankle injury in the first inning Friday of Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.

Encarnacion was scrambling to get back to second base when he jammed his foot into the bag and rolled his ankle.

He dropped to the ground in obvious pain and writhed in the infield dirt while waiting for medical personnel.

Encarnacion, who was doubled up on the play, was unable to put much weight on his leg and had to be helped off the field. He had to pause on the trip to the dugout because he was hurting so much.

The Indians said Encarnacion has a sprained ankle and is undergoing further evaluation.

Michael Brantley, who made it back from a serious ankle injury to make the postseason roster, replaced Encarnacion as Cleveland’s designated hitter in the second inning. In his first season with Cleveland, Encarnacion hit 38 homers with 107 RBIs. Cleveland signed him to a three-year, $60 million contract in January after he spent seven-plus seasons with Toronto.

Nationals

Washington announced that assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones has been suspended with pay pending an internal investigation. The team said the suspension is connected to a legal matter. The club announced Jones’ suspension less than a halfhour before the scheduled first pitch Friday of Game 1 of Washington’s National League Division Series against the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

Diamondbacks

Coach Ariel Prieto and the Diamondbacks were fined by MLB for his wearing an Apple Watch in the dugout in the NL wild-card win against Colorado. MLB announced the discipline Friday, two days after the game. The commissioner’s office said that it interviewed Prieto and examined his watch and cellphone. It said it “found no evidence that Prieto used the watch or cellphone for any purpose in the dugout, nor any baseball-related communication on either device.”

Elsewhere

The mayors of Chicago and Washington made a friendly wager on the outcome of the NLDS between the Cubs and the Nationals. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel said he’s wagering beer, sausage and steaks. Washington mayor Muriel Bowser is betting beer and half-smokes. The losing mayor also will make a donation to hurricane relief fund and efforts in Puerto Rico.