Edwin lifted as precaution with ankle sprain
CLEVELAND -- With the rout on against the Tigers on Saturday, the Indians took no chances when Edwin Encarnación rolled his right ankle while running the bases in the fourth inning. His exit gave him more time to prepare for the division-clinching party.
Encarnacion enjoyed some celebratory drinks and lit a cigar after the 15-0 romp over the Tigers -- a win that sealed the Tribe's third straight American League Central crown. The mild right ankle sprain hardly appeared to be an issue as the veteran made his way around the champagne-soaked clubhouse.
"He's fine," manager Terry Francona confirmed. "He just tweaked it. He could've stayed in."
Encarnacion is unlikely to be in Sunday's day-after-clinch starting lineup, giving the designated hitter two days (including the club's off-day on Monday) to rest his foot.
Following an RBI single in the fourth, Encarnacion moved up to second on a base hit to center by Yonder Alonso. When Encarnacion stepped on the bag, he appeared to roll his right ankle and then limped for a few steps before being met by Francona and a member of the medical staff.
Encarnacion walked off the field under his own power and he was replaced on the basepaths by pinch-runner Rajai Davis.
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In four plate appearances, Encarnacion logged a pair of RBI singles, one walk and three runs scored. He is batting .239 with 31 home runs and 99 RBIs in 124 games this season.