DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland is a little concerned and the fans are downright antsy, but reliever Phil Coke believes everything is going to be just fine.
Coke worked with pitching coach Jeff Jones earlier in the week on some mechanical fixes in his delivery.
Leyland called on Coke in the eighth inning Wednesday night after the Tigers had clawed back from a 7-0 deficit to an 8-7 deficit.
Coke retired Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter on a ground ball. Then Nick Swisher got a base hit to center, Robinson Cano followed with a single, Mark Teixeira added an RBI single and Eric Chavez fouled off seven pitches in an 11-pitch at-bat before getting an RBI groundout.
Just like that, the Yankees' lead was back to three runs, 10-7.
"He's just not getting the ball where he's trying to get it," Leyland said. "He got the first out with Jeter, you're feeling pretty good. Then the blooper. In defense of him, the next one was a little bloop. But he couldn't stop it."
If it were a one-time event, that would be one thing. But in Coke's last six outings, he has an ERA of 10.38.
Yet despite giving up two runs on three hits Wednesday, Coke was encouraged with his performance.
"I was phenomenally better tonight," Coke said. "I located all but two pitches. Two negatives on the night and those are the only two that I can think of. The pitch to Teixeira was a changeup away and it didn’t have any fade — it was a little too firm.
"When you make a pitch like that to a guy who is a good high-ball hitter from the right side. I got him to get the ball on the ground, but in that particular case, I’d prefer he swing and miss than have him match up with me on the next pitch."
Although he felt he was throwing better, Coke was not enthralled with the results.
"My last two outings were my concern and I made my adjustments I needed to make," Coke said. "I was throwing the ball really well tonight.
"I’m all right with giving up one, not two."
Leyland is really looking for the results he got from Coke in the second half last year, when he went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA after the All-Star break.
"Obviously we need to get him going," Leyland said. "I would say that concerned, a little bit, but in a panic mode, no. But we gotta get him going, he's very important for us. Because the other two lefties are very inexperienced."
Leyland is speaking of Darin Downs, who has only made nine big-league appearances, and Duane Below, who seems to have settled in more as a long reliever.
Coke, who turned 30 last month and became a first-time father, has been their best lefty reliever the last few years.
The Tigers are going to need him to be that again to win the Central Division. They do have right-handed relievers like Octavio Dotel and Joaquin Benoit who can get left-handers out, but Coke is an important part of the relief corps.
Coke feels that despite Wednesday's outcome, he's well on his way to getting back to where he needs to be.
"Results-wise, I’m not necessarily upset because I felt like I made all but one pitch tonight," Coke said. "I’m OK with my results as far as how I felt and how the ball came out of my hand because that’s what I was struggling with.
"I feel better than I did earlier in the season. Tonight, I felt like how I was supposed to feel. I felt strong and smooth and the ball was jumping out of my hand."
Now the Tigers hope that those good feelings start equating to better results.
