Written by the Canadian Press at TSN.com
Edwin Encarnacion sauntered out of the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, goggles on his forehead, his shirt drenched in champagne and clutching a bottle in his hand as he looked to share the moment with friends and family.
Inside their locker-room, the jubilant Jays were spraying each other with booze in their second celebration in three days thanks to Encarnacion.
The 33-year-old slugger added to his free agent price-tag with a three-run 11th-inning home run Tuesday that lifted Toronto to a 5-2 wild-card win over the Baltimore Orioles and set up an American League Division Series with the rival Texas Rangers for the second year in a row.
Encarnacion’s blast becomes part of Blue Jays lore, joining Joe Carter’s three-run walk-off homer off Phillies closer Mitch Williams to win the 1993 World Series, and Jose Bautista’s three-run shot, complete with bat-flip, against Texas in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS.
“Hard to put into words,” added Toronto starter Marcus Stroman. “Chills, excitement, I kind of blacked out for a second. Unbelievable. Eddie has been clutch for us all year.”
Devon Travis singled with one out off Ubaldo Jimenez, a starter who was Baltimore’s seventh pitcher on the night, and moved to third on Josh Donaldson’s single. Then Encarnacion went to work, depositing the ball over the left-field fence.
“It was just a very special moment for us, and it was just nice to see the ball leave the ballpark,” Encarnacion said though an interpreter.
The first baseman threw his arms in the air, then let the bat drop and started to circle the bases — his right arm cocked for his trademark parrot celebration. He was greeted by a mass of teammates at home plate, including Ezequiel Carrera, who unbelievably had a plush parrot on his shoulder.
“Can’t say enough. We had the right guy up at the right time,” said outfielder Kevin Pillar. “He’s been the one guy throughout the whole year, that has been in the lineup, been healthy, carried this team when guys are out. He doesn’t get enough credit for what he does. This guy should be in the MVP conversation.”
The Jays outhit Baltimore 9-4 in a drama-filled game that lasted three hours 25 minutes.
Toronto opens against Texas, the top seed in the American League, on Thursday in Arlington to open the five-game AL Division Series.
To continue reading this article, click here.
