Seattle Vs. Detroit

After 157 relief appearances, Phil Coke struggled when he made his first career start in the 2010 season finale. The left-hander, though, is now making a strong case to be a permanent fixture in the Detroit Tigers' rotation.

Coming off his first career win as a starter, Coke will try to extend his 12-inning scoreless streak Tuesday night when the visiting Tigers continue their series with the Seattle Mariners.

Coke (1-2, 2.25 ERA), who spent 2008 and 2009 with the New York Yankees, went 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 74 appearances for Detroit last season. In his first career start - only getting the ball Oct. 3 at Baltimore because the Tigers had no rested starters - the left-hander lasted 1 2-3 innings, surrendering two runs and five hits and not receiving a decision in a 4-2 victory.

Coke made his first two appearances this season as a reliever, but he has been solid in two starts since, going 1-1 while allowing two runs and six hits over 13 2-3 innings. He threw seven innings of three-hit ball in Thursday's 3-0 win at Oakland, and has not allowed a run since the second inning of his first start - against Kansas City on April 9.

"He was impressive," manager Jim Leyland said. "His mindset was to be a starter and he's getting into a groove. His demeanor was real good and he seemed much more calm. I think being more regimented helped him."

Coke has no record with a 1.35 ERA in eight relief appearances versus the Mariners.

Coke's teammates have apparently found their hitting stroke at Safeco Field, where they had dropped four of five prior to Monday's 8-3 series-opening win.

After combining for three runs and 11 hits in back-to-back losses at Oakland over the weekend, the Tigers (8-9) tagged Mariners pitching for 10 hits, including four in a six-run seventh inning.

However, it's uncertain when hard-hitting catcher Victor Martinez will be back in the Tigers' lineup after leaving Monday's game in the second inning with a strained right groin.

"If I just need three days I'll be happy, but it's pretty sore right now," Martinez said. "I don't know. I'll just take it day by day and see what happens."

The light-hitting Mariners (5-12) continue to struggle at the plate, batting an AL-worst .217. Back home after batting .194 and scoring nine runs while dropping three of four in Kansas City, Seattle scored three or fewer for the sixth time in seven games Monday.

Even two-time AL batting champ Ichiro Suzuki can't get going, hitting a career-low .250 following Monday's 1-for-5 effort.

Veteran right-hander Doug Fister (0-3, 3.86), who gets the ball Tuesday, is all too familiar with the Mariners' hitting woes. Seattle has scored one run in each of his three starts.

"I thought he did a lot better than his line indicated," manager Eric Wedge told the Mariners' official website after Fister surrendered five runs in seven innings of Thursday's rain-shortened, 5-1 loss to the Royals. "They weren't punching the ball around on him too much. They took advantage of some opportunities, but I felt like Doug gave us a chance to stay in the ballgame. We just didn't do anything offensively."

Fister is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against Detroit.

Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch, 3 for 6 off Fister, went 2 for 3 with an RBI double Monday to his improve his batting average to .522 (12 for 23) against Seattle. He's had at least one hit in all six of his career games versus the Mariners.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera, who scored three runs in the series opener, is a .377 lifetime hitter versus the Mariners but has never faced Fister.

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