Bautista gets home run stroke back on Target

Jose Bautista has had his struggles so far this season.

But apparently it was nothing that a trip to Target Field couldn't help.

While Bautista did not do much damage in Thursday's 6-2 win, he returned to his more usual Target Field form in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Twins.

Bautista homered twice in the game to give him nine home runs in nine games there.

Edwin Encarnacion also is on target in Minneapolis. He also homered on Friday and has hit six in his nine games there. By comparison, the Twins' two big hitters over the years have struggled to hit the ball out there. Joe Mauer has hit two home runs in 120 games at Target Field while Justin Morneau has hit five in 85 games.

"I guess it's just a pitching staff that throws strikes and tries to challenge you, and at the times that I've come here, maybe I've been swinging a hot bat," Bautista said. "I mean, (Thursday) they still challenged me and I didn't get any hits. That just shows you it depends on how I'm swinging the bat, and there's nothing about this stadium in particular."

Bautista has not been swinging a particularly hot bat. After he popped up with the tying run on third to end Friday's game, he was batting .186 with seven homers and 17 RBI.

Encarnacion has had a good season but has struggled during the trip to Anaheim, Oakland and Minneapolis. Friday's homer was his 11th of the season and gave him 29 RBI for the season.

The Blue Jays still have two games to play at Target Field. They can only hope that playing there can help Bautista right his season and return Encarnacion where he has just a short time ago.