Encarnacion’s homers aren’t enough in loss to Mariners

The Indians experienced something this weekend they haven’t since August of last season: A regular-season series loss.

Dee Gordon’s power and his glove in center field led the Mariners to a 5-4 win over the Tribe on April 1, taking two of the three games in the season-opening series.

The Indians closed out last season going unbeaten in their final 18 series (15 wins, three ties) before losing to the Yankees in their best-of-five AL Division Series.

Gordon, who has never hit more than four homers in a season, led off the seventh inning with a tiebreaking shot to right off Dan Otero (0-1). He also made a sliding catch in the third after racing to deep left-center on a drive by Jason Kipnis.

Edwin Encarnacion went deep twice for the Indians, his 29th career multihomer game.

Gordon’s homer broke a 2-2 tie. A few batters later, Haniger added a two-run drive off reliever Tyler Olson to give Seattle a 5-2 lead.

They were the first runs Olson has allowed with Cleveland — last year he threw 20 scoreless innings in 30 appearances for the Indians.

Encarnacion cut the lead to one with his second homer in the eighth, a tworun shot.

“It’s only three games and I feel great at the plate,” Encarnacion said. “I’m seeing the ball good and I want to continue to be that consistent.”

Edwin Diaz struck out all three batters in the ninth for his second save.

“It’s only three games and I feel great at the plate, I’m seeing the ball good and I want to continue to be that consistent.”

— Edwin Encarnacion

Indians starter Trevor Bauer allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, striking out seven and walking three.