SEATTLE -- With Jay Bruce’s name being bandied about on the trade front on Saturday, it seems only a matter of time before the Mariners also become connected to talks involving a new home for veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion.
The 36-year-old designated hitter/first baseman blasted two soaring home runs in Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Angels, a day after being scratched from the lineup following an emergency root canal.
Encarnacion said his jaw still hurt, but he managed a sly smile when discussing his two blasts.
“It’s still sore, but I can play,” he said. “It bothered me on some swings, but not every swing. The two homers I got, I don’t feel nothing.”
Encarnacion was the one delivering the pain this time, as he drove a 1-0 changeup from Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney a projected 400 feet into the second deck in left field at T-Mobile Park in the fourth inning, then followed with a two-run smash to dead center in the sixth to tie the score at 3.
The 438-foot projection on his second homer made it the longest by a Mariner this season, out of reach even of Mike Trout in center.
“He had no chance on that one,” Encarnacion said.
The power display wasn’t enough for a Seattle club that has now lost 34 of its last 46 games in falling to 25-36. Kole Calhoun’s two-run homer off Roenis Elias in the eighth proved to be the difference, and Trout added insurance with a ninth-inning blast off Chasen Bradford.
Encarnacion now has 15 homers on the season and 395 in an outstanding 15-year career. He’s racked up the most homers and RBIs in the Majors since 2012 and is third among active players for the most career long balls, behind only Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera.
“He has such a good idea what he’s doing at the plate,” manager Scott Servais said. “It all comes down to [the fact] he doesn’t chase often. He gets his pitch, he has a good feel for what the pitcher is going to do against him and his timing was really good today. All that with a root canal yesterday and his jaw being pretty sore.”
Saturday’s outburst snapped Encarnacion out of a recent dry spell, as he last homered on May 19, against the Twins.
Despite his recent slump, the three-time All-Star has been a looming presence in the middle of the lineup all season, second on the team with 37 RBIs and tied with Daniel Vogelbach for the most home runs on a club that trails only the Twins for the most long balls in baseball this year.
“I just tried to get my approach back and my timing,” Encarnacion said of his battles with Heaney, who gave up just three other hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts in his six-inning start. “I hope I can stay like that, but it’s not easy. I have to keep working and try to get my consistency back.”
Bruce and Encarnacion are the most prominent veterans available on the trade market from a Mariners team that has slipped after a hot start and is looking to the future after dealing many of its top returners last offseason.
The Mariners are in talks with the Phillies about Bruce, another three-time All-Star who could fill an outfield or a bench role in Philadelphia.
Encarnacion’s trade market might be trickier, given he’s primarily been a DH in recent years and is making $20 million this season, with a $5 million buyout or $20 million option for 2020. But clearly the veteran still provides significant punch as a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat, and he’s played well in 38 starts at first base this season, which could open up more possibilities.
Elias' struggles continue
Calhoun’s game-winning shot off Elias continued a rough recent run for the 30-year-old from Cuba, who was Seattle’s steadiest and most versatile reliever early in the season, when he was closing games at times and racked up five saves.
But since posting a 2.41 ERA with no home runs, six walks, 18 strikeouts and 14 hits in 18 2/3 innings over his first 16 games, the wheels have wobbled.
Elias’ numbers in his last eight outings since May 11 (9 1/3 frames): 7.17 ERA, three homers, eight walks, 10 strikeouts and 13 hits.
“Ro was so good for us for such a big chunk in April and May,” Servais said. “The last couple weeks, he just hasn’t been the same with his stuff. . ... His changeup has kind of been his go-to pitch, but he’s struggled to get his curveball going or having other options against left-handed hitters.”
A familiar foe
Veteran lefty Tommy Milone, making his third start since being promoted to replace rookie Erik Swanson in the rotation, took a no-decision and is now 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. The 32-year-old allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings, with the big blow a two-run homer by Pujols in the first.
Pujols is 13-for-27 with two home runs in his career against Milone.
“Going down 1-0 on him and then throwing a fastball up in the middle of the plate is probably not a good idea, especially to him,” Milone said. “Me and him, career-wise, he’s had me pretty good. Other than that, I felt I made some good pitches when I needed, I just didn’t get deep into the game.”