Blue Jays’ Edwin Encarnacion: Best Single Game Performance?

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are 20-5 in August. They’re the best team in baseball. They’re hot. Edwin Encarnacion is a big reason for that. He’s riding a 24 game hit streak. It is the longest streak of the season. He’s hot. On Saturday, he had the best performance of his 24. With 3 HR and 9 RBI, is it enough to be the best individual performance in Blue Jays history?

Since 1977, there have been some pretty good performances to compare this one to.

Edwin started the scoring on Saturday with a 3-run shot to left field. When he came to the plate in the 6th inning and hit a 2-run job. Then, with the bases loaded in the 7th, he went opposite field for a shot that barely scraped the wall for his 3rd of the game and his 9th RBI.

Perhaps even cooler than his late blast was the reaction from the hometown crowd.

Throwing hats on the field was a very neat aspect of this afternoon. As was the curtain call that followed.

All of this came at a time when our staff had written a couple of pieces that call into question the future of the Bringer of Chicken Wings. Needless to say, a game like this might lead some to think that the arguments made are silly. They don’t change, though. His future as a Blue Jay is yet to be determined.

But, this is about the present. And, more specifically, about the past. Can you remember an individual performance that can rival this one? We look at a few and then ask for your input. Here we go!

Next: 9 RBI? Been there. Done that!

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Betsided

If you go all the way back to near the end of the club’s first season, you will find another pretty impressive showing. On Saturday, Encarnacion tied Roy Howell‘s mark of 9 RBI in a game. Howell did it against the New York Yankees on September 10, 1977 to disappoint the hometown fans. We all know how hard it can be for a visiting team to go into Yankee stadium. Well, this day wasn’t one of those games.

According to Baseball Almanac, the final score was 19-3 for the Blue Jays. Howell took 6 at bats out of the 3rd spot in the lineup. He collected 5 hits and scored 4 runs. His 9 RBI came off a single, 2 doubles, and 2 home runs. His 2 home runs were just his 6th and 7th on the season.

An interesting note on this game is that the Yankees used 17 different batters. Clearly, they used the opportunity provided by the score to share the playing time. The Blue Jays? Well, they only used the starting 9. That game’s starter was Jim Clancy. He would give a complete game, giving up 8 hits, 3 earned runs, a walk and 3 strike outs.

Edwin’s 9 RBI against the Tigers might actually be more interesting given that he tallied them all on home runs. In fact, he just needed a solo shot to complete the cycle of home runs. Of course, compiling that many RBI withoutusing the long ball is equally impressive. Where you stand on that depends upon how in love with the home run you are.

Next: Delgado is a Firework!

Delgado on Level of Excellence Credit: S Doyle/Jays Journal

Toronto Blue Jays

If you love the long ball, then you’ll remember the following performance. On September 25, 2003, Carlos Delgado launched a total of 4 home runs against the Tampa Bay Rays. There were lots of fireworks that night. Remember when they sued to set off fireworks for each home run? His first one went for his 300th bomb of his career. Delgado was winding down a monster season. He finished 2nd in MVP voting, but 1st with 145 RBI and an OPS of 1.019. He hit 42 HR and 38 doubles that season with a .302/.426/.593 to put together one of the better season in Blue Jays history.

The following highlights his big night. He hit a 3-run shot and 3 solo bombs for a total of 6 RBI. His final home run was crushed well over 450 feet and the Windows restaurant. Check out the bat flip after that one.

It is somewhat disheartening to see the stadium so empty. Granted, it was 2003 and they were playing the Tampa Bay Rays. Regardless, the crowd was rocking that night. Delgado also set a club record with 16 total bases that night. That mark still stands.

While Edwin’s home runs totaled more runs, Delgado’s shots were impressive. His 3rd one came against a lefty pitcher and the sheer awe inspiring distance of the last one might give him the edge. Of course, his bombs also helped his team edge out a 10-8 victory that night. Edwin’s final blast was really just icing on the already decorated cake. The game was in hand at that point. But, that should not take away from Edwin’s day. Indeed, it was a rough day to be a pitcher.

Next: Rocketman Strikes Out 2/3 of a Lineup

Apr 26, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Rogers Centre field during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Betsided

As good as it is to watch batters do their thing and set franchise marks, there are those who would much rather watch a nice pitching performance. Whether it is a perfect game (of which there have been none in Blue Jays history) or lots of strike outs, there is something to be said for a dominating pitching performance.

Take, for example, the 18 strike outs from Roger Clemens against the Kansas City Royals on August 25, 1998. Now, you can throw out all the question marks and off hand comments about his link to PED’s you’d like. It still doesn’t change the results.

Clemens went a complete game, giving up 3 hits and no walks while striking out 18 Royals. He would finish that season with 271 K’s, 20 wins, a 2.65 ERA and a Cy Young Award. Oh, he also struck out 292 the year before! His performance against the Royals would have been a sight. We can take the word of someone who was there:

Whether Edwin’s day stacks up against The Rocket’s is a matter of opinion. And, as good as Clemens’ performance was, it still is not the best pitching demonstration in Blue Jays history.

Next: The Best Individual Performance in Blue Jays History?