Lip readers alert: Watch Edwin Encarnacion give it to the Cleveland dugout
It wasn't a flashy bat drop, or even a home run for that matter, from Edwin Encarnacion. But it was definitely a moment of swagger – and some breathing room – that's been missing from the Blue Jays over the first three games of the ALCS.
THE SITUATION: With Toronto up 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning of Monday's Game 4, runners on the corners and no one out, Cleveland manager Terry Francona ordered an intentional walk of Josh Donaldson to load the bases.
It was a classic pick-your-poison moment for Francona, whose button-pushing this series has been well-high flawless. Until now. Walking Donaldson set up a force-out at home. It also brought up the American League's RBI leader in Encarnacion, whose walk-off home run decided the AL wild-card game two weeks ago.
"To say the least, I was a little surprised," Donaldson said later.
Jose Bautista: "With the double play in order right there, it didn't make much sense to me, even if they were conceding the run."
Francona: "Either way it's not the most desirable situation."
THE HIT: Facing Bryan Shaw, who'd come in for starter Corey Kluber to begin the inning and given up a single to Ryan Goins, then made a wild throw to first to put Bautista on, Encarnacion laced a 1-1 pitch 110 mph the other way, the ball bouncing off the mound and through the drawn-in infield and into centre to score Goins and Bautista.
Francona: "It didn't work."
Encarnacion: "It felt good. Who doesn't like to hit with the bases loaded? I love to hit with the bases loaded so it was a good thing that happened to me and I helped my team to win."
THE RESULT: Game 5 ensured, lip readers have a field day. At least for one more day, the Blue Jays are alive.
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