Blue Jays' Vernon Wells, left, celebrates with Aaron Hill after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning. Hill later added a two-run blast of his own. (Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Aaron Hill realizes the successes of those around him in the Blue Jays' batting order this season, namely Jose Bautista, Vernon Wells and Fred Lewis.

His appreciation extends to the pitching staff, which has bailed out the second baseman at times for his shortcomings either at the plate or in the field.

Sunday afternoon was a time for Hill to give back to his teammates, with left-handed starter Brett Cecil probably topping the list.

He doubled off New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes in the first inning, clubbed a two-run homer to left field in the third and beat out a throw by Alex Rodriguez for an infield single in the ninth to lead Toronto to a 7-3 win.

"It's a great win for us," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "Today was a good win."

Hill also plated John McDonald with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and scored two runs in a 3-for-4 afternoon to help the visitors avoid a three-game sweep and snap New York's eight-game win streak.

Hill entered Sunday's contest without a hit in three at-bats versus Hughes this season and was 2-for-15 in his career with no extra-base hits against the right-hander.

Last Monday at Tampa Bay, Hill misplayed a ground ball behind Cecil with two out in the third inning. The next batter also reached base and came home on a Carlos Pena homer for three unearned runs in a 6-2 Blue Jays setback that cost Cecil a chance at his 12th win of the season.

Throw rushed

On Sunday, Hill picked up his ninth error of 2010 when he misplayed a ground ball in the eighth inning, rushed his throw and watched the ball sail past first baseman Lyle Overbay, allowing Curtis Granderson to reach safely.

Later, Hill was seen limping and was replaced at second by Mike McCoy to open the bottom of the ninth.

With 26 games left, Hill has 22 home runs and 57 runs batted in to go with a .215 average. He hit .286 a year ago with 36 homers and 108 RBIs.

Toronto went 2-4 during visits to Tampa Bay and New York, improved to 8-7 against the Yankees this season and returns home 70-66 overall.

Wells accounted for three runs with his 24th homer — a two-run shot in the first inning — and bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

John Buck added his 16th dinger of the season, the third of the game served up by Hughes, who saw his season record fall to 16-7.

"It's almost always about location," Hughes said. "A fastball right in the middle of the plate on 0-2? That's probably the worst pitch you can make, and I did it a couple times today."

Toronto leads the major leagues with 208 home runs, including 17 in nine games this season at Yankee Stadium. The Blue Jays have only led the American League in homers twice before — in 1988 and 2000 — when they went deep a team-record 244 times.

Cecil bests Hughes again

Cecil (12-7) outpitched Hughes for the second time in less than 10 days, yielding three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 3-0 in four starts against the Bronx Bombers this season.

"I've had some good games against these guys this year," Cecil said of the 86-51 Yankees. "It helps and it hurts you to see these guys a lot, because they see you a lot, too. But as long as you make pitches."

Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with an RBI in his first game since being activated from the disabled list with a tight left calf.

"It felt great. It felt great to be in the [batter's] box," Rodriguez said afterward. "I haven't hit for a long time, so I'm just trying to feel my way. But I felt pretty good."

The Yankees boasted an 11-3 mark during his absence, averaging 7.1 runs and a .310 average in their previous eight outings.

The Blue Jays kick off a seven-game homestand Monday against Texas in a 1:07 p.m. ET start.

With files from The Associated Press