CLEVELAND _ Edwin Encarnacion belted three home runs, the Indians pummeled Matt Moore, and starter Corey Kluber eased the burden on an over-taxed bullpen in a 12-4 rout of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.
With the wind blowing out, the Indians pounced on Moore for nine runs in the first two innings and 10 runs by the fourth. Encarnacion crushed two home runs off Moore and then added another in the eighth off Jesse Chavez, giving him nine for the season. He drove in six runs and had five by the end of the second inning.
It was the 30th multi-homer game of Encarnacion's career, and the third time he's hit three home runs in a single game. It was also the Indians' first three-homer game since Lonnie Chisenhall belted three on June 9, 2014, in Texas.
This season has followed Encarnacion's normal season trajectory, when he often heats up once the calendar flips to May. This was simply on the extreme side of it.
"I know what I've got and I know what God gave to me," Encarnacion said. "I feel very comfortable about myself and I know what I can do. It's just about timing and about playing and knowing I'm going to be playing every day and I know that I'll be all right."
Added Kluber, "I think it was (Tuesday) in the dugout, he said something along the lines of, 'I'm coming,' so I guess he knew what he was talking about."
Jason Kipnis, who, along with Yonder Alonso, has perhaps best represented an Indians offense putting solid contact on the ball but not finding results, broke through on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run, his first of the season.
Francisco Lindor added a solo home run to the Indians' onslaught.
With Kluber on the mound, the game wasn't in doubt past the second inning. Kluber pitched seven innings and gave up three solo home runs on a day during which the flags beyond center field were furiously waving for much of the game. He also struck out six.
It was a much-needed performance from the bullpen's perspective, one that had been heavily worked since Andrew Miller was placed on the disabled list last week. Prior to the game, it warranted a roster move.
The Indians designated Matt Belisle for assignment and promoted Ben Taylor, who was claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox the same day Belisle was signed to a minor-league deal this past February. Belisle became the odd man out in part because left-hander Tyler Olson's wife is soon expecting a baby, and with Miller on the disabled list, the Indians didn't want to designate Jeff Beliveau for assignment and risk going through a time without a left-hander available in the bullpen.
Dan Otero and Taylor each pitched an inning in relief giving the rest of a tired group the day off.
"The last thing you want to do is let them creep back into a game where we gotta get Cody (Allen)," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "You're always trying to win today, but it's hard not to think about two games (Thursday). So I think the way we did it, everybody's available (Thursday), which will be really helpful."
