ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Mark Teixeira hit his AL-leading 25th homer and Mark DeRosa had a two-run shot in a four-run eighth inning as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 9-8 victory Sunday.

DeRosa was making a rare start in place of All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who was in Panama to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple’s third child.

With the game tied at 5, Sandy Alomar drew a out-out walk in the eighth from Jason Frasor (1-4). DeRosa followed with his third homer of the season.

David Dellucci followed with a single, went to second on a groundout and scored on Teixeira’s two-run drive to extend Texas’ lead to 9-5.

Teixeira, the AL All-Star first baseman and a participant in Monday’s home run contest, has three homers in his last two games.

Aaron Hill’s two-run double in the ninth off Francisco Cordero pulled the Blue Jays within 9-7. Eric Hinske’s run-scoring double made it 9-8, but Cordero struck out Alex Rios with runners on second and third before getting pinch-hitter Reed Johnson to ground to third to end it.

Hank Blalock had three RBIs for the Rangers. Kameron Loe (3-1) pitched a hitless eighth for the victory.

Vernon Wells’ three-run double in the fifth gave the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead, knocking out Rangers starter Chris Young.

But Texas came back in the fifth against Toronto starter Josh Towers, getting consecutive singles from Dellucci and Michael Young. After Teixeira walked to load the bases, Blalock singled to right to drive in Dellucci and Young.

The Blue Jays tied it at 5 in the eighth on Rios’ RBI groundout against Loe.

Gregg Zaun had three hits for the Blue Jays, who have lost 10 of their last 13 in Arlington.

Texas took a 2-0 lead in the second on Gary Matthews Jr.’s run-scoring double and Alomar’s RBI single. Blalock had an RBI double in the third but Zaun reduced the deficit to 3-1 with a run-scoring single in the fourth.

Towers gave up five runs and nine hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Young allowed four runs and six hits over four-plus innings.

Notes: The Rangers had no pregame announcement on LHP Kenny Rogers’ plans for the All-Star game. Rogers was voted in by the players, but there has been speculation that possible negative fan reaction in Detroit to his June 29 shoving incident involving two television cameramen might keep Rogers away. Rogers is appealing a 20-game suspension handed down by commissioner Bud Selig. “If anybody deserves to pitch and wants to, it’s Kenny,” manager Buck Showalter said. …Towers is 0-4 lifetime against Texas. … The Rangers honored former OF Rusty Greer in pregame ceremonies. … Young has at least one extra-base hit in each of the last eight games. … Rodriguez made his second career relief appearance. He has 31 career starts.

AP-ES-07-10-05 1717EDT