Edwin Encarnacion Powers Blue Jays Beat Down Of Tigers

The Toronto Blue Jays offense just keeps rolling along, and on Saturday, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion was the engineer. Encarnacion cracked three home runs and drove in nine runs as the Blue Jays cruised to a 15-1 against the floundering Detroit Tigers. According to the Toronto Star, Blue Jays fans littered the field with hats after Encarnacion blasted his third home run, much like they would do when one of their beloved Maple Leafs would record a hat trick in hockey. Edwin also extended his hitting streak to 27 games, the longest hitting streak in Major League Baseball this season.

The Blue Jays have been on fire recently, winning eight of their last nine games, and have a two game lead in the American League East over the New York Yankees going into Saturday night’s action. The Yankees are scheduled to take on the Braves in Atlanta on Saturday night.

As hot as the Blue Jays have been Encarnacion has been even hotter. In his last 10 games Edwin has eight home runs and has knocked in 25 runs. Encarnacion is batting .392 in the month of August and has a slugging percentage of .899.

It didn’t matter who the Tigers had on the mound on Saturday as the Blue Jays belted around whomever they put out there, until the game was well in hand. Buck Farmer started for the Tigers and lasted just four innings allowing six runs, five of them earned. The relief pitching provided no relief as Guido Knudson allowed three earned runs, then Tom Gorzelanny allowed three of his own and Alex Wilson, who obviously didn’t want to be left out, allowed three more runs. The only pitcher to hold down the Blue Jays was newly acquired Neftali Feliz who pitched a perfect eighth inning and robbed Encarnacion of a chance to hit a fourth home run on the day as he was left in the on-deck circle.

Encarnacion wasn’t the only bright spot for Toronto as Drew Hutchinson pitched very well in his return from the minor leagues. Hutchison improved his record to 13-2 on the year by pitching seven innings and allowing just one run while striking out seven and walking no one.

The Blue Jays will look to sweep the Tigers on Sunday as Alfredo Simon will try to stop the Toronto offense and Mark Buehrle will take the hill for the Blue Jays. What will Edwin Encarnacion do for an encore?

[Image by Tom Sczcerbwoski/Getty Images]