TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion's three-run home run on Friday night put him in exclusive company.

Encarnacion took Bobby Parnell's fastball over the centre-field wall in the seventh inning for his 23rd home run of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Detroit Tigers 6-0.

The three runs batted in gives Encarnacion 80 RBIs on the season, making it the fifth time in club history a player reached the mark prior to the all-star break. Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado, twice, and Vernon Wells also did it.

"He's having a heck of a year, he really is," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "He crushed that ball. He's been a big part of this team for a number of years, who knows where he ends up, but he's making a great name for himself."

The victory stretches the Blue Jays' (50-39) season-high win streak to seven games. Detroit (45-42) has now lost four of five. It marks the fifth time in franchise history the Blue Jays have reached the 50-win mark prior to the all-star break, and first time since 1992.

Toronto's win coupled with Baltimore's loss on Friday night moves the Blue Jays a game back of the Orioles for top spot in the A.L. East Division.

Kevin Pillar got the Blue Jays offence rolling earlier in the seventh. After Justin Smoak led off with a single, Pillar took Kyle Ryan's offering to right-centre for his first hit of the night, scoring Smoak from first.

J.A. Happ tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out nine while surrendering six hits and one walk. Happ matched his personal best for wins in a season (12) with the victory.

The 33-year-old left-hander becomes the first Blue Jays starter since Roy Halladay (2006) to win 12 games prior to the all-star break.

"I felt like Russ (Martin) did a good job adjusting to their adjustments as the game went on, but they battled me and I was battling back," Happ said. "The first part we had a plan, we were trying to make 'em feel it inside, they kind of started adjusting to that… so we were able to sneak in some change-ups and some off-speed stuff."

The Jays bullpen took care of the rest as Jesse Chavez and Bo Schultz combined to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Toronto's defense delivered a couple highlight-reel plays.

Josh Donaldson flashed his defensive game to end the fifth, bare-handing a ball shot down the third baseline by Cameron Maybin and gunning out the Tigers' centre fielder at first.

"When it hit the bag, you never know what kind of bounce its going to get or what kind of hop it's going to take," said Happ. "Luckily it was close enough to him and he bare-handed it, made a great throw over there (to first) too."

Then in the ninth, Troy Tulowitzki got Justin Upton out at first, making a tough play while running to his right and throwing across his body for the first out of the inning.

Mike Pelfrey (2-8) went six innings allowing just one run on six hits while walking three and striking out two. His lone blemish came in the fifth. Darwin Barney led off with a double and later opened the scoring when Donaldson hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

Toronto added to its lead in the eighth when Pillar scored on a sac-fly from Ezequiel Carrera, giving the Blue Jays a 6-0 lead.

Note: Prior to Friday's game the Blue Jays recalled INF Andy Burns from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned RHP Drew Hutchison to their minor league affiliate.