"I thought it had a chance to go because that's where most of my power is," Encarnacion said in Spanish through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. When I saw it leave (my bat), I knew it had a chance to go. The wind and the bat helped make it a home run. If you don't hit it well, it doesn't matter how much wind there is."
According to Statcast, it would have been a home run in 17 of the league's 30 ballparks. Despite this, Encarnacion became the first right-handed batter to homer the opposite way at Oracle Park this season.
It's been done only 75 times since the waterfront ballpark opened in 2000, not since J.D. Davis did it last May, also against the Brewers. It was carrying a little bit out there today, but it's tough to go oppo here, especially at night, manager Bob Melvin said.
Encarnacion made good contact—101.6 mph off the bat—but the ball traveled only 353 feet before finding the first rows of seats atop the arcade.
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