Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Bruce Chen tossed six strong innings to outduel fellow southpaw Phil Coke, as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers, 3-1, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Chen (1-0), who led the Royals with 12 wins last season, scattered three hits, walked one and struck out seven.
Billy Butler finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Kansas City, which snapped a two-game slide.
"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."
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.
Ryan Raburn homered off Kansas City closer Joakim Soria with two outs in the ninth to account for Detroit's lone run. Soria retired the next batter to pick up his second save.
The Royals pushed two runs home in the second inning. Butler led off with a walk and came around to score after consecutive one-out singles by Jeff Francoeur and Wilson Betemit. Brayan Pena walked to load the bases and Alcides Escobar grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Francoeur.
Detroit threatened in the sixth, but Will Rhymes was thrown out at home attempting to score on a double by Magglio Ordonez.
Two innings later, Kansas City's Robinson Tejeda needed only one pitch to escape a bases-loaded jam.
Francoeur provided insurance with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Both teams had five hits...Chen has won his last five decisions...Butler extended his hitting streak against Detroit to 21 games.