Don Kelly becomes Tigers' first position player to pitch since Shane Halter in 2000

AP PhotoDetroit utility man Don Kelly delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the ninth inning Wednesday.DETROIT -- It's odd to see a ninth-inning standing ovation when the home team is trailing 16-9.

Of course, it's also odd to see utility man Don Kelly on the mound at all, firing 86-mph fastballs at the New York Mets.

But after New York scored 30 runs the past two days against the Tigers, and Detroit depleted its bullpen trying to stem the damage, Tigers manager Jim Leyland called on Kelly when lefty reliever David Purcey ran out of gas with two outs in the ninth.

Kelly delivered, retiring Mets designated hitter Scott Hairston on a lazy fly ball to center field to end the top of the night.

On a 2-2 curveball, no less.

"Or whatever resembled one," Kelly said.

The crowd gave him a standing ovation, cheering him with an enthusiasm normally reserved for a save by closer Jose Valverde.

"My mentality was to just try to get the ball over the plate," said Kelly, who had not pitched since a fall league in college.

Kelly said he was told to start loosening up at the start the ninth inning, in case the Tigers needed another pitcher.

What was going through his mind when he took that mound for the first time?

"There was adrenaline going the whole time," he said. "I just didn't want to overthrow."

Did he sneak a peak at the stadium's radar gun in left field?

"On the first pitch, no" he said with a smirk. "But it was 86 up there later on."

Kelly is the first position player to pitch for the Tigers since Shane Halter appeared in an Oct. 1, 2000 game against the Minnesota Twins.

After the game, the Tigers optioned reliever Daniel Schlereth to Toledo and called up Brayan Villarreal to offer reinforcements.

But, on an otherwise dour night for Detroit, Kelly at least offered the Tigers a bit of levity.

And, yes, Kelly said he is available for Thursday's game.?

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Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has history of feasting on Mets' Chris Capuano

AP File PhotoChris Capuano

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers don't have a lot of history against Chris Capuano, who will start today for the New York Mets in the second game of a three-game set at Comerica Park.

But one guy does, and he'll be happy to see him again.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is hitting .368 lifetime against the Mets' left-hander, including two home runs and four RBIs in 19 at-bats.

No other Tigers hitter has faced Capuano more than four times.

The Tigers will counter with their own lefty, Phil Coke, who is winless in his past 11 starts. His only victory of the season came April 14 in Oakland against the A's.

Oddly, despite Coke's 1-7 record, his 4.32 ERA is second-best on the Tigers' staff. Only Justin Verlander, who will start Thursday's series finale against the Mets, has a better ERA (2.38).

Here is the Tigers' lineup against Capuano:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Casper Wells RF
3. Magglio Ordonez DH
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez C
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Brennan Boesch LF
8. Brandon Inge 3B
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

Phil Coke LHP (1-7, 4.32 ERA)

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Time running out for Phil Coke to keep spot in Tigers' rotation

AP PhotoPhil Coke needs to immediately prove he can be an effective starter, or he will be back in the bullpen

Phil Coke has gone from hard luck to no luck. 

In his first nine starts of the year, Coke allowed four or more earned runs only twice.  Through that stretch he had a respectable ERA of just 3.80, but the lack of run support from his teammates left him a dismal 1-5.

Then he hurt his foot in the fourth inning of a win over Tampa Bay and was placed on the Disabled List.

Since coming off the DL, Coke has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his four starts.

I would say Coke's problem prior to his stint on the DL was 60-percent team, 40-percent Phil.  Unfortunately, that number has shifted to 90-10, and it's not in Coke's favor.

The sad thing for Coke is that if the team had done a better job behind him earlier in the season and gotten him a few more wins, this recent hiccup could have been overlooked.  However, since he is now 1-7 instead of 4-4, the view through the microscope is much more intense.

What all this means for Coke is that his leash is about as long as an unlit Jim Leyland cigarette.  And we all know those don't stay unlit for long.  Coke cannot have another poor performance - not one - or he will be demoted back to the bullpen.

It's probably unfair for me to call it a "demotion."

Last year Coke was a darn good relief pitcher, and if he ends up back in that role again, it will be as much recognition of his quality coming out of that spot as it is pointing out his shortcomings as a starter.  Well, it might be a little bit more of the latter, but you get my point.

In 2010, Coke threw 64.2 innings in 74 appearances for Detroit, with only one of those a start.  His ERA was 3.76, which would be the fifth best in the bullpen this year behind only Al Albuquerque, David Purcey, Jose Valverde and Charlie Furbush.

Of course, one of those pitchers would have to replace Coke in the starting rotation, and the obvious choice to get his shot is Furbush.

AP PhotoCharlie Furbush will move into the starting lineup if Phil Coke falters again

He's been spot-on out of the bullpen since getting called up May 21.  In 21.2 innings in 12 appearances, Furbush has allowed only 18 hits and six earned runs.  It's not all sunshine and roses, with Furbush giving up nine walks and six home runs, but he has certainly shown enough to get his shot if Coke loses his starting spot.

That becomes even more obvious when you take into account Furbush's work as a starter in the minors this year before coming to Detroit.

In 46.1 innings, Furbush had a fantastic 2.91 ERA with 55 strikeouts and opponents batting just .179 against him.  Furbush threw two complete games and, possibly most important, he only got rocked once. 

So this is the deal for Phil Coke:  turn it around now, and don't falter once.  The second you show a crack, Charlie Furbush is waiting.

Good luck, Phil.

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