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.