Yankees’ Edwin Encarnacion has been hot since return from IL

BOSTON — A month on the IL with a fractured wrist hasn’t slowed Edwin Encarnacion.

A Yankees lineup that had been shut down Friday got a four-run outburst in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Red Sox. And the biggest blow came from Encarnacion.

“When he gets hot, he is one of the best hitters in the game,’’ said J.A. Happ, who played with Encarnacion in Toronto and tossed 6 ¹/₃ scoreless innings on Saturday in his second consecutive excellent performance.

“I haven’t seen many like him when he gets hot,’’ the lefty said. “He can put up some incredible numbers.”

Encarnacion blasted a two-run shot off Colten Brewer to cap off a rally that got some help from the Red Sox’ defense.

After DJ LeMahieu’s single to lead off the fourth — the Yankees’ first baserunner of the day — Aaron Judge struck out and Didi Gregorius hit a liner to right that J.D. Martinez lost in the sun.

The ball clipped off his glove for a double, sending LeMahieu to third.

After using seven pitchers on Friday, Boston manager Alex Cora went to his fourth pitcher in less than four innings with another right-hander, Colten Brewer, to face Gary Sanchez.

Sanchez sent a pop-up down the right-field line that fell between second baseman Brock Holt and Martinez. It bounced into the stands for a two-run, ground rule double to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead and Encarnacion crushed a two-run shot over the Green Monster off Brewer to make it 4-0.

Encarnacion has homered twice since returning from the IL stint and has 11 homers with the Yankees since the June trade from Seattle. And he added an RBI double in the ninth to give the Yankees a five-run lead.

“It’s the confidence I have in myself to go out there and do the best I can,’’ Encarnacion said through an interpreter. “I try to find consistency.”

And he likes how his new team is playing with the postseason approaching. He said there is something different from other good teams Encarnacion has played on.

“The biggest difference is how deep this team is,’’ Encarnacion said. “I’ve been part of good teams, but so many guys here are talented. That’s the difference.”