Encarnacion is hoping to play

Cleveland Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion is hoping to play again this postseason after suffering ligament damage in his right ankle Friday during Game 2 of an American League division series with the New York Yankees.

Manager Terry Francona said Encarnacion probably won’t start Game 3 on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium, but could play.

Encarnacion was wearing a boot and using crutches Saturday during a day off in the best-of-five matchup. The Indians lead 2-0.

Girardi takes the blame

Yankees manager Joe Girardi took the blame after deciding not to challenge a hit-by-pitch in Game 2 of the series with Cleveland.

“I take responsibility for everything,” Girardi said during a day off. “And I feel horrible about it.”

With New York ahead 8-3, Lonnie Chisenhall was awarded first base by plate umpire Dan Iassogna on an inside pitch by reliever Chad Green.

Catcher Gary Sanchez asked Girardi to challenge and replays showed the ball hit the knob of Chisenhall’s bat.

Sanchez caught the 0-and-2 pitch, which would have been an inning-ending third strike if ruled a foul tip.

Francisco Lindor followed with a grand slam to make it 8-7. Cleveland won 9-8 in 13 innings.

Boston relying on Fister

Right-hander Doug Fister will try to keep the Boston Red Sox from being swept by the Houston Astros in their division series when he takes the mound Sunday at Fenway Park.

In eight postseason starts, Fister is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA. His teams were 7-1 in those games, winning each of the last three. Two of his seven victories came with his team facing elimination.