Encarnacion hits game-winning homer, Jays beat Marlins 4-3

TORONTO (AP) As he approached a crowd of teammates waiting at home plate, ready to celebrate his game-winning home run, Edwin Encarnacion pointed to his sore left shoulder and asked everyone to go easy on him.

The Blue Jays obliged, and were gentle with their latest hero.

Encarnacion hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and Toronto extended its winning streak to seven games, beating the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday night.

''Anything can happen; I don't want to get hurt again,'' said Encarnacion, who missed the past two games after getting a cortisone shot. ''They took care of me.''

Liam Hendriks (2-0) pitched one inning for the win as the Blue Jays won in their final at-bat for the second time in three games.

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

Encarnacion connected off A.J. Ramos (0-1) with a one-out drive to center. It was the fourth walkoff homer of Encarnacion's career.

''I was looking for a fastball at the beginning of the count,'' Encarnacion said. ''He threw me a first-pitch fastball and I didn't miss it.''

Giancarlo Stanton hit two solo home runs for the Marlins, who lost for the third time in four games. Stanton leads the majors with 21 homers and 51 RBIs.

Josh Donaldson led off the ninth with a single that dropped in front of Stanton in right. After Jose Bautista struck out, Encarnacion followed with his 13th homer and first since May 24.

''They're a good hitting team and that group in the middle of the lineup is probably as good as any in baseball,'' Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. ''They hunt the fastball and they're certainly capable of doing damage when they get it.''

Encarnacion's drive denied Dan Haren his third straight win. Haren allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He walked none and struck out seven, matching his season high.

''Tremendous job by Dan Haren,'' Jennings said. ''He's an artist out there.''

Stanton opened the scoring by homering off Mark Buehrle in the first, then broke a 2-2 tie by connecting off Roberto Osuna in the seventh. It was his third multihomer game of the season and the 16th of his career.

Christian Yelich also homered for the Marlins.

Toronto's Chris Colabello went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, ending his hitting streak at 18 games.

Buehrle came in riding a 17-inning scoreless streak but couldn't extend it, with the Marlins taking an early lead on Stanton's two-out drive in the first.

Miami made it 2-0 on Yelich's two-out homer in the fourth, but Toronto tied it in the bottom half on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Jose Bautista and Encarnacion.

Buehrle allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings, the first time in three starts he failed to pitch a complete game.

DOGG ON THE FIELD

Rapper Snoop Dogg threw out the first pitch wearing a Blue Jays jersey with `Dogg' and the number 20 on the back. After jokingly shaking off catcher Jose Bautista twice, Snoop Dogg's pitch was high and outside.

WEB GEM

Marlins 2B Dee Gordon raced into foul territory behind first base and made a sliding catch to retire Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: Jennings said RHP Mat Latos (left knee) is expected to be activated soon after throwing 4 2-3 inning in a rehab start at Triple-A New Orleans on Monday. ''It could be within a week,'' Jennings said. ''We're looking at the rotation and where he could potentially fit in.''

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (4-3, 3.72) has won his past two decisions and allowed just one run over seven innings in his past start, June 5 at Colorado. Koehler has never faced the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays: Toronto will skip rookie RHP Aaron Sanchez this time through the rotation. Gibbons said Sanchez is suffering from general soreness. ''We can't take a chance so we'll back him off,'' Gibbons said. Following the game, RHP Scott Copeland was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to start against Miami on Wednesday, with INF Munenori Kawasaki optioned to Buffalo. Copeland has made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays this season.