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Renteria homers as Tigers down Blue Jays

Apr 19, 2008 - 5:01 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- What a difference a week has made for the Detroit Tigers.

Edgar Renteria capped a come-from-behind effort with a two-run homer as the Tigers topped the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-4, on Friday.

Ivan Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera each finished with two hits and an RBI and Carlos Guillen scored a pair of runs for Detroit, which has won four of its last five games after beginning the season 2-10.

"He's a great hitter," Rodriguez said of Renteria. "He's gonna be great for us. He's a smart hitter, hits to all parts of the field. Very tough to get out."

The Tigers' resurgence has been based on an offense that boasts seven former All-Stars and was hyped as one of the best in the league entering the campaign.

After ranking last in the majors with 33 runs scored through 12 games, Detroit has amassed 39 runs in the past five contests.

Kenny Rogers (1-3) backed the offense with a solid performance on the mound, lasting 6 2/3 innings while allowing four runs and three hits. The veteran lefthander walked four and struck out one to notch his first win of the season.

"I felt great," Rogers said. "I was really comfortable with what I was trying to do. I had a sinker working and established the fastball down."

David Purcey made his first major league start for the Blue Jays, yielding one run and two hits while walking seven and striking out three in 4 1/3 frames.

"I was just trying to go out and throw strikes," Purcey said. "I ended up walking a lot of batters. I think the adrenaline got to me."

Toronto's first-round pick in the 2004 draft (16th overall), Purcey showed his inexperience with a lack of command as he managed just 40 strikes on 86 pitches.

"I was fine my last start in Triple-A," Purcey said. "(On Friday), I was just missing the zone. I made some pitches to get out of jams and tried to keep us in the game."

The Blue Jays' bullpen did nothing to support its young starter. Jason Frasor came on and gave up RBI hits by Rodriguez and Marcus Thames in the sixth that pulled the Tigers within 4-3.

Struggling former closer Jeremy Accardo (0-3) then surrendered three runs in the seventh as Detroit completed its comeback. Magglio Ordonez doubled in a run to tie the game and scored on a throwing error before Renteria put away the contest with his second blast of the season.

"I know I got the stuff and things aren't falling for me," said Accardo, who has yielded eight earned runs in his last four innings. "I'm putting myself in bad situations. It's just one of those things I've got to battle through."