Rookie Galarraga leads the Tigers
TORONTO -- An unlikely rookie is leading the Detroit Tigers in wins.
Armando Galarraga won his second straight start, Edgar Renteria homered and the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-1, Monday.
Ivan Rodriguez had four hits and Renteria scored twice for the Tigers.
Galarraga (2-0) has won both of his starts since being called up from triple-A Toledo last week to replace Dontrelle Willis, sidelined by a hyperextended knee.
Acquired in an off-season trade with Texas, Galarraga won’t face the Rangers when they visit Detroit this week but still had a message for his former team.
“They made a mistake,” he said, laughing.
No other Tigers pitcher has more than one win, and the quintet of Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers, Justin Verlander and Willis has only two victories.
The 26-year-old Galarraga blanked the Blue Jays on three singles for 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked four.
“He had a lot of late movement,” Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill said.
“He was running pitches in; he was doing well with his slider.”
Galarraga, who beat Cleveland last week, lowered his earned-run average to 1.50. He has not given up a hit to a right-hander in 21 at-bats since joining the Tigers.
“He’s got a good sinker, a good slider,” Rodriguez said. “He was able to use them today and make the right-handed hitters hit the ball on the ground.”
Toronto finished 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position Monday and was seven for 56 (.125) with runners in scoring position on this six-game homestand, winning only twice.
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