Charlie Furbush is looking forward to the view from the dugout again.

The South Portland left-hander will make his first major league start Monday — the Fourth of July — for the Detroit Tigers against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., leaving his role in the bullpen after 12 appearances.

Furbush was promoted to the starting rotation Thursday following 21 2/3 innings of relief since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo in May.

Phil Coke, who has a 1-8 record and a 4.91 earned-run average, was sent to the bullpen.

Furbush has a 2.49 ERA with 17 strikeouts and nine walks.

“It was a pretty good day,” Furbush said Thursday following the Tigers’ 5-2 victory against the New York Mets. “Everyone gave me congratulations on the move into the rotation. We had a good win after the Mets put a little spanking on us. And (Justin) Verlander pitched really well.”

Furbush said he found out about his promotion shortly after 11 a.m. from media personnel in the clubhouse.

“I actually found out through our media guys,” said Furbush. “They went in and did their pregame interview stuff with (Manager Jim) Leyland then came up and told me. Shortly after, I talked to the staff about it.”

Furbush has been a starter his entire career, from high school in South Portland to college at Division III St. Joseph’s in Standish, then to Louisiana State and all through the minor leagues.

His first call-up by Detroit came May 21 when reliever Brad Thomas was put on the disabled list.

His major league debut came two days later, May 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays when Coke was forced to leave a game with an ankle injury.

Furbush picked up the win, pitching 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 6-3 victory.

“I’m just happy for the opportunity to get on the mound as a starter,” said Furbush. “I’m definitely looking forward to it.

“I don’t really see the transition being too tough just because I’ve done it for so long. I’m still really new to relieving. It will be nice to get back to the routine.”

Since then, his deceptive release from his 6-foot-5 frame has proven effective.

Leyland told the Detroit News that Furbush deserves an opportunity.

“I like his stuff, like I like Coke’s stuff,” said Leyland. “I don’t know what he’s going to do. Is this some magic formula? We don’t know that. But I think he deserves an opportunity.”

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:

jmenendez@pressherald.com

Twitter: JennMenendez

 

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