Encarnacion wraps spring with first Tribe homer

April 1st, 2017

PHOENIX -- In the final exhibition game of the spring for both clubs, hit his first Indians homer as he helped lead the Tribe past the D-backs, 9-4, on Friday night. went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Arizona.
The Indians left following the game for Arlington, where they will open their season Monday against the Rangers. The D-backs, meanwhile, face the Giants Sunday afternoon on Opening Day at Chase Field.
Encarnacion, who signed a three-year $60 million free-agent deal during the offseason, had a nice spring for the Indians, finishing with a .311 average and seven RBIs, but it wasn't until the second inning that he collected his first homer in a Tribe uniform.
"That was a nice swing. He took a couple good swings. That's good," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Encarnacion. "He knows himself so well, and he looks ready."

, who drove in two runs in the game, also homered in the second off Robbie Ray. The D-backs left-hander gave up three runs on three hits over four innings.
Arizona grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fifth, thanks in part to an RBI single to left by that had just a 15 percent hit probability, according to Statcast™.

The Indians took control of the game during a five-run sixth inning that featured three passed balls by Arizona's Jeff Mathis and two wild pitches by Tom Wilhelmsen.
Indians Up Next: Cleveland will open its season on Monday in Texas, where ace will take the hill for his third straight Opening Day assignment in a 7:05 p.m. ET tilt against the Rangers. will start for Texas.
D-backs Up Next: The D-backs open the regular season Sunday afternoon against the Giants at Chase Field with a 1:10 p.m. MST start. Zack Greinke will make his second straight Opening Day start and third of his career. San Francisco will counter with .
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