J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run homer and Ricky Romero finally solved the Boston Red Sox as the host Toronto Blue Jays secured a series win with a 7-4 victory on Thursday.

Edwin Encarnacion and Eric Thames each added solo homers for the Blue Jays, who took three of four from the Red Sox to jump back to .500 (72-72).

For the second day in a row, Boston failed to gain any ground on the first-place New York Yankees and remained 2 ½ games out of the American League East lead.

Toronto rallied for four runs in the second inning when David Cooper singled in a run and Arencibia followed by blasting a 3-2 offering from Andrew Miller (6-3) off the facing of the second deck in left field for his 22nd homer.

Romero (14-10), who had been torched by the Red Sox for 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings over two previous starts this season, held one of the best offensive teams in the majors scoreless through the first six innings.

The lefthander allowed a leadoff single to Jacoby Ellsbury in the first and did not yield another hit until the sixth.

Boston put three runs up in the seventh but Casey Janssen managed to get out of the inning with the lead intact.