The Detroit Tigers' Matt Joyce, 20, smiles as he walks toward the dugout following his three-run home run off a pitch from the Texas Rangers' Vicente Padilla in the seventh inning Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers’ Edgar Renteria, 8, and Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, right, stand by home plate. (AP photo)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Even though he’s a rookie, Matt Joyce made a wise decision listening to veteran manager Jim Leyland.

Joyce homered twice, including a three-run shot in a nine-run seventh inning, and Armando Galarraga beat his former team as the Detroit Tigers defeated the slumping Texas Rangers 11-3 on Tuesday night.

Leyland, who is in his 17th season managing in the big leagues, pulled Joyce aside recently with a message.

‘‘I talked to him the other day,’’ Leyland said. ‘‘I said, ’You know, you have a chance to be a good player but you need to play with a little more tenacity.’ He said, ’I can do that.’ If he bears down, grinds it out and goes the extra mile, he should be a very good player.’’

Joyce has taken his skipper’s words to heart in the past two games against the Rangers. He is 4-for-8 with four runs scored and recorded the first multihomer game of his career.