The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Encarnacion hits three home runs in victory
Kluber improves to 5-1
Edwin Encarnacion’s big day included a congratulatory phone call from another Dominican slugger.
Encarnacion homered three times and drove in six runs, helping Corey Kluber and the Indians beat the Rangers, 12-4, on May 2.
The 35-year-old Encarnacion said Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols made a FaceTime call to him after the victory.
“We used to talk a lot,” Encarnacion said. “He called me almost every day and we’d talk about hitting. He’s a great guy.”
Encarnacion hit a three-homer in the first, a two-run shot in the second and a solo drive in the eighth.
The designated hitter leads the team with nine homers despite a .191 batting average.
“I feel very comfortable about myself and I know what I can do,” he said. “It’s just about timing and about playing.”
Encarnacion also had a slow start last season and was batting .198 in midMay. He finished with a .258 average, 38 homers and 107 RBI.
“We’ve all seen how hot he can get where he can kind of put you on his shoulders a little bit,” Manager Terry Francona said.
Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor also connected in Cleveland’s highest scoring game of the season. Kipnis’ three-run shot in the second was his first of the season.
Kluber (5-1) allowed three solo homers in seven innings in his fifth straight win. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner struck out six and walked none.
“Obviously that’s a huge cushion,” Kluber said of the offense scoring nine times in the first two innings. “It allows you to go out there and be aggressive and attack the zone and ideally get deep into the game.”
Rangers starter Matt Moore (1-4) allowed a career-high 10 runs in four innings, including three homers. The left-hander gave up 11 hits and walked two while throwing 94 pitches.
“It was a bad day,” Moore said. “I’ve got to do way better. A lot of the pitches, it just seemed like they knew what was coming. I don’t have an answer for that.”
Each team used nine relievers over the series’ first two games, leaving both bullpens overworked. Kluber gave Cleveland exactly what it needed while Moore stumbled.
The Indians got four in the first and five in the second. Michael Brantley hit an RBI single in the first before Encarnacion drove a 1-0 pitch into the bleachers in left for his seventh of the season.