Shortstop Yunel Escobar is making believers out of manager Cito Gaston and his new teammates.

The shortstop smashed a second-inning grand-slam homer, powering the Jays (47-45) to a 10-1 blowout victory over the lowly Orioles on Sunday in Baltimore.

The home run was Escobar's first of the season, ending a 363 at-bat drought.

"I was saying before he hit it that it would be a good time to get his first home run," Gaston said. "That was a great time for it."

Escobar's blast is the only grand-slam he can remember hitting. "Not even when he was a little kid," said bench coach Nick Levya, who served as Escobar's translator.

Acquired in a five-player deal on Wednesday, Escobar said before his first game with the Jays that he was misunderstood in Atlanta.

Criticized for what Braves manager Bobby Cox described as lackadaisical play, an agitated Escobar said he simply wants a clean slate in Toronto.

In his brief tenure with Toronto, Escobar has certainly taken advantage of his new surroundings. On Sunday, he went 3-for-4 in the contest with five RBIs, and finished the three-game series going a combined 6-for-13.

The 27-year-old put the game away early for Toronto as he took a 1-0, two-out offering from Baltimore starter Brian Matusz over the left-field wall to give the Jays a 5-1 lead.

"A lot of people were asking him about it … doubting whether he could hit (a home run) or not," Levya said. "He knows he can."

Escobar has also made plays with the glove.

He assisted in the crucial final out on Saturday night — after closer Kevin Gregg loaded the bases — to secure the Jays' 3-2 victory.

Toronto, meanwhile, swept the Orioles (29-62) for the third time this season, winning all nine contests.

"It's just one of those clubs," Baltimore interim manager Juan Samuel said of the Jays. "They are a good offensive club that seems to have our number."

Marcum solid for 5 innings

Lost in the Escobar story was the successful return of starting pitcher Shaun Marcum, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday after missing time with soreness in his right elbow.

Marcum (8-4) pitched five solid innings, gave up nine hits, one earned run, while striking out four. Gaston took Marcum out of the game after the starter developed a blister on his middle finger.

Baltimore's Nick Markakis continued his success against Marcum, going 3-for-3 to raise his career batting average to .462 against the Toronto hurler.

"I tell you what, he's the best player I've ever faced," Marcum said. "I think he's hitting 7.000 off me."

The Jays chased Matusz (3-10) out of the game after only 1 2/3 innings, collecting five hits and charging the left-hander with six earned runs.

"It's just some mechanical adjustments I need to make," Matusz said. "When I'm staying down in the zone, I'm effective. When I'm not, I'm getting hit. Today was a tough day."

Toronto finished the day pounding the Orioles for 15 hits.

Catcher John Buck had three hits in the victory, including two RBIs.