Encarnacion makes return with a bang

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays welcomed Edwin Encarnacion back into their lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins at Roger Centre, and the power-hitting designated hitter came through in a big way. Encarnacion hit a walk-off homer vs. Marlins closer A.J. Ramos to complete the Blue Jays' 4-3, come-from-behind victory, extending the team's winning streak to seven games.

"That's why it's so important to have Eddy in the lineup healthy," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He can do that."

After Josh Donaldson singled to kick-start the late-inning heroics, Encarnacion marched to the plate with a chip on his shoulder. He'd been called out on strikes in the seventh inning and voiced his displeasure toward home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez as he headed back to the dugout following the strikeout. When he came out for his at-bat in the ninth, he said he was hunting for an early fastball.

"Tried to make a good swing, looking for my pitch, and the homers come," Encarnacion said after hitting his 13th homer of the season and fourth career walk-off. "I was looking for my fastball at the beginning of the count, he threw me the first-pitch fastball, and I don't miss it.

Making his first start since he was pulled from Saturday's game against the Astros, Encaracion motioned to his teammates to avoid smacking his previously-injured left-shoulder as he rounded third on his game-winning home run trot.

He said the shoulder has felt much better since receiving a cortisone shot, which led to him missing a pair of games on Sunday and Monday.

"I feel a lot better. I just have to keep doing my routine in my shoulder, and I'll be all right." he said.