Encarnacion and Blue Jays rout Rangers for series win

Edwin Encarnacion doubled twice, homered, and drove in six runs as the Toronto Blue Jays rediscovered their 2015 offensive form in an 12-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night at the Rogers Centre.

Kevin Pillar added two doubles of his own, driving in two runs while Russell Martin and Darwin Barney contributed a pair of hits each.

Blue Jays (15-15) starter J.A. Happ‘s outing was overshadowed by the offence, but he gave Toronto another very strong seven innings of one-run ball. The left-hander allowed just six hits while striking out five, needing only 90 pitches.

This offensive outburst brings the Blue Jays back to .500 with a 3-1 series win over the Rangers and represents their highest run total of 2016. No Blue Jays batters struck out in the win.

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The Blue Jays wasted no time against Derek Holland, putting up five runs in the first inning and batting around. They would chase him in the third, en route to a six-run frame.

Holland lasted just two and two-thirds innings for the Rangers (15-14), allowing 11 earned runs on 11 hits and three walks.

Left-handed reliever Chad Girodo entered in relief to handle the eighth inning for Toronto. Girodo was recently recalled for the second time by the Blue Jays and looked very strong, forcing a double-play to erase his own fielding error.

Ryan Tepera took the ninth inning for the Blue Jays, allowing a run on three consecutive singles with two outs.

Pillar batted leadoff for the first time since he was moved to the bottom third of the lineup. Michael Saunders was out for a regular day of rest with a left-hander on the mound and is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow when Marcus Stroman faces Kenta Maeda and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Prior to the game, manager John Gibbons said that he would be using Brett Cecil in left-on-left situations as he looks to get his season back on track.