Rangers-Indians Preview

5/24/2008 10:42 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

After snapping their longest losing streak of the season, the Cleveland Indians hope they can start providing some runs for 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia.

Sabathia takes the mound Sunday for the Indians, who are closing out a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.

Cleveland (23-26) snapped a seven-game losing streak Saturday, beating the Rangers (25-26) 5-2. The Indians had scored just 13 runs in the first six games of the losing streak, but they have hit better in this series. On Friday, Cleveland lost 13-9, but scored its most runs in 12 games.

Ben Francisco and Jhonny Peralta each homered on Saturday. Francisco's three-run homer in the third inning gave the Indians a 4-2 lead after Texas scored the game's first two runs.

"We definitely needed a win," Francisco said. "They got the lead on us, but Cliff (Lee) pitched great, we got some hits and came back."

Cleveland coming around at the plate is good news for Sabathia (3-6, 5.14 ERA), who after a slow start, has pitched better recently, but hasn't been provided with much run support.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner was 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in his first four starts. Since then, he has a 1.66 ERA in the last six starts, but is just 3-3 during that stretch. Sabathia allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out eight in seven innings on Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Sabathia had won his previous two starts. It was the seventh time in his 10 starts this season that the Indians managed two or fewer runs of support and the fourth time in the last six starts.

"No one's getting anybody to point any fingers at any time," Sabathia told the Indians' official Web site. "When we explode we'll be fine."

Sabathia is 7-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers, but is just 2-4 with a 6.07 ERA at home this season.

Saturday's loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Texas. The Rangers stranded 10 runners and committed two errors, both in the second inning.

Ian Kinsler and David Murphy drove in the two runs for Texas while Josh Hamilton went 3-for-5. Hamilton, who leads the majors with 53 RBIs, is hitting .512 (21-for-41) in the last nine games.

Doug Mathis (1-1, 10.13) takes the mound for the Rangers on Sunday after struggling in his first major league start.

The 24-year-old right-hander made three relief appearances in May, pitching a total of three innings, before Texas called on him to start Tuesday against Minnesota in place of the injured Kevin Millwood. Mathis gave up nine runs - six earned - as well as eight hits and four walks in 2 1-3 innings of an 11-4 loss.

This likely will be Mathis's final start as Millwood was cleared Saturday to rejoin the rotation after missing two weeks with a strained right groin.