MLB: Toronto 7, Texas 2

TORONTO, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill and Yunel Escobar all homered Monday, powering the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-2 victory over Texas.

Wells connected for a three-run homer, Aaron Hill clubbed a two-run shot and Escobar added a bases-empty blast to stake Toronto to a victory in the opener of a four-game series at Rogers Centre.

Ricky Romero (12-8) picked up the win, yielding one run on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts through seven innings.

The Rangers' Tommy Hunter (12-3) was lit up for seven runs on seven hits in an emergency start in place of Cliff Lee, whose originally scheduled appearance was first pushed back until Tuesday and then scratched due to an ailing back.

Michael Young went 3-for-4 had an RBI double and David Murphy contributed a run-scoring single for first-place Texas, which has dropped four in a row and seven of nine but maintained a 7 1/2-game lead in the American League West.