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Royals, Tigers close set at Comerica Park

Apr 10, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals turn to Luke Hochevar to get them a series win this afternoon when they wrap up a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

After dropping the series opener, the Royals responded with a win on Saturday, as Bruce Chen tossed six strong innings to outduel fellow southpaw Phil Coke in a 3-1 triumph. Billy Butler finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Kansas City, which snapped a two-game slide.

Chen (1-0), who led the Royals with 12 wins last season, scattered three hits, walked one and struck out seven. Joakim Soria surrendered a ninth inning home run, but still earned his second save of the season.

"I feel like the whole team chipped in," Chen said. "The bullpen did a real good job. The defense was there, the offense was enough for us. I went out there and I did my job, too. So, I feel like we won as a team."

Butler carries a seven-game hitting streak into today's finale, while Alex Gordon leads all American League players with 14 hits. The duo has combined for seven of the Royals 16 hits in this series.

Coke (0-2), making his first start of the season and just the second of his career, gave up two runs on three hits and four walks. He also recorded seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

"Very impressive for his first start," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Coke.

Today, the Royals give the ball to Hochevar, who is 0-1 through two starts and has pitched to a 6.17 ERA. Hochevar lost to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Opening Day, then was pounded for six runs (five earned) in six innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox five days later.

"They (the White Sox) came out swinging and I've got to recognize that earlier and start mixing in a little earlier," Hochevar said.

Hochevar has faced the Tigers seven times (six starts) and is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA.

Detroit, meanwhile, will counter with young right-hander Rick Porcello, who lost his first start of the year to Baltimore, surrendering five runs and nine hits in five innings.

"It was not on the ground quite enough, to be honest with you, but he was OK overall," Leyland said after Porcello's first start. "I thought he attacked the zone pretty well. He certainly didn't pitch that bad."

He is 3-1 lifetime against the Royals with a 4.57 ERA in seven starts.

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