ARLINGTON, Texas – Edwin Encarnacion already is impressing the Cleveland Indians.
The Texas Rangers have already seen too much of the slugger.
Encarnacion hit a tying homer in the eighth inning of his first game with the Indians, and Cleveland scored three times in the ninth to open their American League title defense with an 8-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Encarnacion has six home runs in his past nine games against the Rangers.
"That's why we got him. It's a nice feeling. You could tell he had one thing in mind right there, and he did it," manager Terry Francona said.
"He can put the ball in the seats whenever," said Andrew Miller (1-0), who struck out two in a perfect eighth. "I think we're going to really enjoy him for 162 games. … He's going to make us win."
Abraham Almonte hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth off Sam Dyson, who had 38 saves last season. Cody Allen got the save for Cleveland by striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth around Elvis Andrus' triple.
Making his first Opening Day start for two-time defending AL West champion Texas, Yu Darvish could not hold a 5-1 lead.
