MiLB Player of the Day: Anyelo Encarnación

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Anyelo Encarnación Drives Peoria With One Big Swing
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Peoria did not get the win Saturday night, but Anyelo Encarnación made sure the Chiefs had a chance.

Encarnación is the Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day after going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, one run scored and one stolen base in Peoria’s 6-3 loss to West Michigan at Dozer Park.

His final line:

2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R, SB

That is a productive night, and in Peoria’s case, it was the entire offense.

The Chiefs were locked in a scoreless game until the bottom of the fourth, when Encarnación delivered the swing of the night. With two runners aboard, he launched his eighth home run of the season, giving Peoria a 3-0 lead and putting the Chiefs in position to win.

For a while, it looked like that might be enough.

Tanner Franklin was excellent on the mound, allowing just one earned run over five innings while striking out eight. Peoria had the lead when Franklin left the game, and Encarnación’s three-run homer was the reason.

But West Michigan chipped away late, scoring once in the sixth, three times in the seventh and once more in the eighth to turn Peoria’s lead into a 6-3 loss.

Still, Encarnación’s night should not get lost in the final score.

He drove in all three of Peoria’s runs. He collected two of the Chiefs’ seven hits. He added his 12th stolen base of the season. He gave the lineup both power and speed, which is exactly the kind of combination that can change a game quickly.

That matters for a player still trying to build consistency at High-A.

Encarnación entered the night looking to keep pushing his offensive profile forward, and Saturday gave him one of his better all-around games of the season. The average is still a work in progress, but the tools showed up. He impacted the baseball, produced runs, and created pressure on the bases.

Peoria got two hits from Jack Gurevitch and two more from Michael Dattalo, while Josh Kross singled and scored. But the run production belonged entirely to Encarnación.

One swing gave Peoria a three-run lead.

One swing put Franklin in position for a win.

One swing made Encarnación the top offensive performer in the Cardinals’ system for the day.

The Chiefs did not finish it, but Encarnación did his job.

Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day:
Anyelo Encarnación, 2B, Peoria Chiefs
Final Line: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R, SB

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit:Anyelo Encarnación, 2B, Peoria Chiefs | MiLB