TORONTO -- The Blue Jays' up-and-down season took another positive turn on Monday afternoon thanks in no small part to an offensive unit that is beginning to find some consistency for the first time this year.

The Jays took advantage of an early-inning offensive outburst and yet another impressive performance from right-hander Shaun Marcum en route to a 7-2 victory over the Royals on Monday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

With the victory, Toronto completed a four-game sweep of Kansas City. The Blue Jays are three games over .500 for the first time this season.

"We got off to a slow start, but we've picked it up and we're playing really good right now," Jays manager John Gibbons said of his team that has won 11 of its past 14 games.

It has been no secret the Jays' early-season struggles have been due to a lack of production by the majority of the team's hitters. Toronto ranks near the bottom of the American League in almost every offensive category, but if recent results are any indication, that might not be the case for long.

The Jays entered the series finale against Kansas City having scored a total of 16 runs through the first three games. It didn't take long for that production to resurface on a rare weekday afternoon affair at Rogers Centre.

First baseman Lyle Overbay got the offense started in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single off Royals right-hander Brett Tomko that scored Scott Rolen for the first run of the game.

After a sacrifice fly by Brad Wilkerson, Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun extended the lead to four with a two-run shot over the right-field wall for his second home run of the season.

The Jays (28-25) continued to pile on the runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, courtesy of a two-run double off the bat of center fielder Alex Rios that gave Toronto a commanding 6-0 lead and put the game out of reach.

"I think we're expecting to [score runs] now," said Overbay, who is hitting .338 with two home runs and 10 RBI over his past 20 games. "We've had some good at-bats on a consistent basis and the hits are starting to fall."

Just as important as the total number of runs the Jays have scored recently is their timing. Toronto jumped in front in three out of the four contests against the Royals, which has taken a lot of stress off Toronto's starting pitchers.

"You see them when they're out there and they have the lead," Overbay explained. "They just relax and pound the zone and just go after it."

A perfect example of that could be found in the top of the sixth inning with the Jays already leading 6-0. Marcum hit the first two batters he faced, but instead of having to give in to the opposing team, the 26-year-old was able to continue attacking the strike zone knowing he had some room for error.

"I don't think anybody has ever hit a six-run home run, so even if they do hit a home run there, we still have a three-run lead," Marcum said. "I just wanted to go out and limit the damage after hitting those first two guys."

He did just that. Despite allowing two runners to score during the inning, Marcum escaped the frame still possessing a commanding 6-2 lead. The Jays righty continued throwing strong until the eighth inning, when he departed having surrendered just those two runs while striking out six batters in 7 1/3 innings.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro continued to make his case for a spot in the starting lineup with a solo home run to left field. Since taking over for the injured David Eckstein, Scutaro has hit .324 with one home run and nine RBIs in 20 games.

Eckstein, who has been out since May 6 with a strained right hip flexor, is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, but Gibbons assured reporters after the game that Scutaro wouldn't see a drastic cut in playing time.

Following the game, the Jays left to catch a flight to Oakland, where they will begin a three-game series against the Athletics on Tuesday. With their next nine games on the road against top teams such as the A's, Angels and Yankees, the Jays know they will have to be at their best if they are to continue their five-game winning streak.

"We've got a big test this road trip," Overbay said. "It will be a true test to see where we're at, because we've got three good teams that we're coming in to play on the road. If we're going to compete the way we want to, we've got to compete against these guys."