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Jun 18, 2010 - 5:21 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (25-39) at Pittsburgh (23-42), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Pittsburgh needs something to help snap the club's second-longest losing streak in 55 years. A visit from the Cleveland Indians could help.

The Pirates hope to continue their recent interleague success over the Indians and avoid a 12th straight loss as the last-place teams open a weekend series Friday night at PNC Park.

Winless since June 5, Pittsburgh (23-43) lost 5-4 to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

Mired in their longest skid since a 13-game slide in 2006, the Pirates have lost 11 in a row for the first time since May 11-22, 1955. The latest setback came hours after team president Frank Coonelly announced contract extensions for general manager Neal Huntington manager John Russell.

Pittsburgh has been outscored 60-33 during its current losing stretch and is 0-6 in interleague play.

"The level of disappointment is so high I can't accurately give you a word for it," Coonelly told the Pirates' official website. "I'm extraordinarily disappointed and frustrated by the play."

A day after committing six errors in a 7-2 loss to Chicago, the Pirates fell behind 5-1 before rallying for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday. After he went 0 for 2 in his major league debut Wednesday, highly touted prospect Pedro Alvarez was booed after going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the finale.

"I didn't hear it," the 23-year-old third baseman said. "I'm starting my career facing some of the best pitching in the league and I'm still optimistic."

The Pirates, though, are 13-11 all-time versus the Indians (25-40). They have won two in a row and nine of 11 at home in the series. Pittsburgh took two of three at PNC last season from the Indians.

Cleveland, which has lost four straight overall, is 3-6 against NL opponents in 2010.

The Pirates could be in for a challenge against Indians scheduled starter Fausto Carmona (5-5, 3.23 ERA).

The right-hander snapped a personal four-game losing streak with a three-hitter in a 7-1 win over Washington on Saturday.

"It was a terrific performance," said Indians manager Manny Acta after Carmona faced one batter over the minimum 27.

Carmona, 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in interleague play this season, makes his first start against Pittsburgh. He pitched 3 2-3 scoreless innings of relief versus the Pirates in 2006.

Shin-Soo Choo had three hits in Cleveland's 6-4 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday and is batting .333 in his last 14 games. He went 4 for 12 against the Pirates last season.

Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm (4-4, 3.63) makes his second appearance against Cleveland on Friday. He allowed one run and struck out seven in 5 1-3 innings of a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Cleveland on May 21, 2006.

The left-hander, 1-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last four starts, gave up one run in six innings of a 4-3, 10-inning loss at Detroit on Saturday.