Encarnacion, Betts each hit three homers
Edwin Encarnacion of the Cleveland Indians and Mookie
Betts of the Boston Red Sox each hit three home runs on Wednesday.
Encarnacion's big day included a congratulatory phone call from another Dominican slugger.
Encarnacion drove in six runs, helping Corey Kluber and the Indians beat the Texas Rangers 12-4 on Wednesday.
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 threehomer 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.
•Mookie Betts heard the name Ted Williams, and that was enough for him.
Betts belted three solo homers and J.D. Martinez also went deep, powering the Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
It was the fourth threehomer game for the 25-year-old Betts, snapping a tie with Williams for most three-homer games in franchise history. Betts broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2014, so he was well aware of the significance of the connection to the Hall of Famer.
"It's pretty cool," Betts said. "He hit .400 in a year and did a whole bunch of things I haven't done. Just to know my name is amongst his is pretty cool."
Betts also hit three homers in a 10-1 victory at the Angels on April 17. He is the first player in major league history with four three-homer games before turning 26,
•Carlos Martinez wasn't sure how to react.
The St. Louis right-hander took his time as he circled the bases after hitting his first major league home run in the Cardinals' 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
"I was slow because it was so exciting," Martinez said. "I was running, but I wanted it to last."
Dexter Fowler added a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who won their second game in a row.
Chicago has dropped four straight and 13 of 17. The White Sox fell to a season-low 12 games under .500.
Martinez (3-1) hit a 407-foot shot off Lucas Giolito (1-4) with two outs in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. He proceeded to take his time in a slow, methodical home run trot.
"The way he hit that ball, he didn't have to run," Cardinals first baseman Jose Martinez said. "He wanted to enjoy it. Good for him."
The home run came in Martinez's 205th career at-bat.
•Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, recovering from offseason right knee surgery, is feeling some discomfort when he runs.
"Still working on trying to run and seeing if I can get that squared away," said Murphy, who spoke with reporters for the first time since returning from extended spring training on Monday.
"I see these guys competing so hard each night. To not be able to do that with them is frustrating. As far as running goes I still have a little bit of a hitch in my giddy up. I am not running the way I would if I was 100 percent." Meanwhile, third baseman
Anthony Rendon will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Class A Potomac.
Manager Dave Martinez said Rendon (left toe contusion) will play one or two games.
Rendon hasn't played since fouling a ball off his foot against the Rockies on April 13.