Afternoon Delight: Jays outscore Rangers 11-5

Kelly Johnson and Edwin Encarnacion homered and ace Ricky Romero earned his fourth win of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 11-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

Johnson hit a two-run shot in the third inning and Encarnacion added some insurance with a three-run blast in the sixth. Yunel Escobar chipped in with a three-run triple for the Blue Jays (14-11), who took two of three games from the American League West-leading Rangers.

Romero (4-0) allowed six hits and five earned runs over eight innings. Reliever Joel Carreno, who was recalled from triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, worked the ninth inning.

Starter Matt Harrison (3-2) absorbed the loss as Texas (17-8) dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

Johnson’s homer, his sixth of the season, hit the facing of the second deck in right field. The Blue Jays broke things open an inning later on a two-run double from J.P. Arencibia and a bases-clearing triple from Escobar that chased Harrison from the game.

Escobar later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jose Bautista.

Encarnacion put the game out of reach with his team-leading ninth homer of the season. He stroked a first-pitch sinker from Scott Feldman over the wall in left field.

Toronto outhit Texas 11-6 on the day. It was the Blue Jays’ second straight home series victory and improved their home record to 8-7 on the season.

Romero worked his way out of a jam in the first inning when the Rangers had runners on second and third with one out.

Mike Napoli hit a grounder to third baseman Brett Lawrie, who threw home in plenty of time to catch Elvis Andrus, who was tagged out by Arencibia after running back to third. Romero got Nelson Cruz to ground out to end the threat.

Brandon Snyder opened the scoring in the second inning with his first career home run, a solo shot to centre field.

The Rangers cut into the lead with four runs in the fifth inning after Romero walked the bases loaded. Andrus knocked in two runs when centre-fielder Colby Rasmus misjudged the liner and had it sail over his head and to the wall.

Michael Young drove in another run with a flare to shallow right field and Mike Napoli made it a three-run game with a sacrifice fly.

Announced attendance was 25,123 and the game took two hours 45 minutes to play.

Notes: The roof was open at Rogers Centre despite breezy, overcast conditions. The temperature hovered around the mid-teens. … Before the game, the Blue Jays sent left-hander Evan Crawford to triple-A Las Vegas and recalled Carreno. … The Blue Jays tinkered with their lineup for the matinee. Johnson handled leadoff duties and Escobar batted second. Encarnacion was the cleanup man and started at first base for Adam Lind. Rajai Davis got the start in centre field but was replaced by Rasmus in the fifth inning. Designated hitter Ben Francisco batted fifth and Arencibia was back behind the plate after backup catcher Jeff Mathis got the start a night earlier. … Toronto Rock forward Garrett Billings threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … The Blue Jays will kick off an 11-day, 10-game road trip on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Brandon Morrow (2-1) is expected to start for Toronto against Dan Haren (1-1).

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