TORONTO (AP) -- Kelvim Escobar brought a dose of reality to the Toronto pitching staff.

Escobar pitched eight strong innings as Toronto recovered from its worst pitching weekend ever to beat the Anaheim Angels 7-1 on Monday night.

	Escobar gave Toronto a big lift, especially after escaping a first-inning based-loaded jam.

Toronto allowed 47 runs in a three-game sweep by the Seattle Mariners over the weekend -- the most runs allowed in any three-game stretch in team history.

"It's unreal when you give up 47 runs in three games," Escobar said. "I couldn't sleep last night."

Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash was quoted in the papers as saying some pitchers would be sent to Triple-A if they didn't pitch better, and manager Jim Fregosi held a "heated" pitchers-only meeting before the game.

Escobar didn't attend, but he got the message anyway.

"I read the paper, and everybody feels bad about what happened this past weekend," Escobar said. "I just tried to forget about it."

The 24-year-old settled down after escaping a first-inning based-loaded jam on Garret Anderson's double-play grounder. He allowed eight hits and two walks.

"I gained confidence as the game went on," said Escobar, who took something off his fastball. "I was throwing 91 and 92 so I could just get the ball over the plate. I tried to get ahead all the time."

Brad Fullmer hit a grand slam and Raul Mondesi hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid.

Fregosi said Escobar gave the team what it needed.

"He gave us a big lift," Fregosi said. "He was aggressive, his mechanics were better and I thought he stayed within himself much better."

Mondesi, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, homered off Mark Petkovsek in the eighth inning to give Toronto a 3-1 lead. After Petkovsek loaded the bases, Lou Pote relieved and gave up Fullmer's second career grand slam.

Anaheim starter Ramon Ortiz (1-1) balked in a run with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

A base running mistake cost Anaheim a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning.

After Mo Vaughn led off with a double, Anderson hit what looked to be an RBI single, but Vaughn missed the bag at third. After the ball was thrown back into the infield, Escobar threw to third baseman Tony Batista for the out.

Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia ran from the dugout to argue with third base umpire Rick Reed, but Reed pointed to the dirt where Vaughn's foot prints were. Scioscia immediately jogged back to his seat.

"I'm disgusted, just disgusted with myself," Vaughn said. "It was a stupid play and it changed the complexion of the game."

Toronto took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth on consecutive doubles by Mondesi and Carlos Delgado.

Ortiz, pitching with a slight tear in his pitching shoulder, allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Anaheim took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Orlando Palmeiro's sacrifice fly.

Game notes
The 47 runs allowed against Seattle were the most in any three-game stretch in Toronto history. ... Edgard Clemente started in center field for the Angels. Clemente is the nephew of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. ... Darin Erstad didn't play because of a sore right shoulder. He jammed it while making a diving catch in Sunday's game against Chicago. ... Craig Grebeck started at second base for the third straight day. Homer Bush is hitting just .154. He also has a slightly pulled left hamstring. ... Shannon Stewart remains day-to-day with a pulled quadriceps and right hamstring. ... The Blue Jays had lost nine of their previous 11 games. ... Mondesi has three home runs. ... An American TV station broadcasting the game showed Brad Fullmer as playing for "Wottawa" during part of the 1999 season. Fullmer played in Ottawa.