Encarnacion productive despite finger injury

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion continues to fight through a finger injury that's bothered him for the last couple months, but it wasn't showing Saturday.

Encarnacion collected a pair of hits, including a key RBI single in the sixth, during the Blue Jays' 6-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the ALCS. The multi-hit effort comes less than 24 hours after Encarnacion was removed from the opener with a ligament sprain of his ailing left middle finger.

"No signs of pain," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters after the game. "He had a good day."

Encarnacion has looked no worse for wear since aggravating the injury in July and August, when he produced statistically his two best months of the season. The Blue Jays designated hitter has carried that success into the postseason, where he's managed a .320/.433/.480 slash line through seven games.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Encarnacion received a cortisone injection with a numbing agent prior to Game 2 in an effort to better handle the pain.

"The medicine that I have has helped me a lot," Encarnacion said. "I didn't feel any pain today. It's not going to be easy for me. Every time I'm going to swing, I never swing easy. I swing hard and I'm going to feel it."