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Royals, Tigers square off at Comerica Park

Apr 9, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - (Sports Network) - Phil Coke makes his first start of the season and just the second of his career this afternoon when the Detroit Tigers play the middle test of their three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.

Coke, who started the final game of the year in 2010 for the Tigers and went into the spring as the favorite to land the team's fifth starter spot, has made two relief appearances already this season and has allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings.

A lifelong reliever, Coke has appeared in 160 games, all but one coming in relief. In his lone start a year ago Coke surrendered two runs and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Coke has faced the Royals 10 times and is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA.

Kansas City, meanwhile, will counter with a lefty of its own in Bruce Chen, who struggled in his season debut on Sunday. The Angels hit Chen hard for five runs and eight hits - three home runs - in five innings. However, he did not get a decision in his team's 12-9 win.

Chen, who led Kansas City with 12 wins last season, is 2-3 lifetime against the Tigers with a 6.71 ERA in 11 games (nine starts).

In Friday's opener, Victor Martinez belted a three-run double as Detroit opened Comerica Park for the 2011 season with a 5-2 win. Jhonny Peralta batted in two runs on two hits for the Tigers, who had opened the year by going 2-4 on a six-game road trip.

Max Scherzer (1-0), who went 8-4 last year at home, continued to enjoy the friendly confines of Comerica Park, going six innings deep and allowing just one run on seven hits.

Chris Getz collected three hits and scored once for the Royals, who had a four-game win streak snapped with a 10-7, 12-inning loss to the White Sox on Wednesday. Melky Cabrera, Alex Gordon, and Billy Butler each had two hits in the loss.

Kyle Davies (0-1) was roughed up for five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The Tigers won 10 of 18 meetings with Kansas City last season, including five of the nine matchups held in the Motor City.