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Yankees-Indians Preview

Jul 27, 2010 - 3:59 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (63-35) at Cleveland (41-58), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Still trying to hit his 600th home run, Alex Rodriguez has a chance to do it on his 35th birthday. Whether he gets the milestone homer or not, the New York Yankees like their chances of winning with CC Sabathia on the mound.

Rodriguez will try to celebrate his birthday Tuesday night by becoming the seventh player in history with 600 homers, while Sabathia seeks to win his 10th straight decision as the Yankees take on the Cleveland Indians.

The superstar third baseman is 5 for 16 in four games since hitting No. 599 in a 10-4 win over Kansas City on Thursday. Rodriguez went 0 for 4 in a 3-2 win Monday to open this four-game series, a day after he suffered a hand injury and left a 12-6 victory over the Royals.

"I'd rather not hit a home run and win then hit a home run and lose," Rodriguez said. "It's going to come whether it's this week or next week or next month. The big point for me is to stay within the game."

He'll be facing Josh Tomlin, who is making his major league debut.

Sabathia (13-3, 3.18 ERA) will make his second start at Progressive Field since the Indians (41-58) traded him to Milwaukee three seasons ago. He was victorious in his return last May 30, allowing three runs over seven innings in a 10-5 victory.

"It's still a little weird coming in through the players' parking lot and walking down, and coming into this (visiting) clubhouse, but as far as facing that team, I think it's just like facing any other team," Sabathia told the Yankees' official website.

The left-hander started the only loss for New York (63-35) in five games against Cleveland this year, allowing five runs over six innings and not receiving a decision in a 13-11 defeat May 29.

That was his last start that the Yankees lost. They have won the last 10, with Sabathia going 9-0 with a 2.22 ERA.

Sabathia, who hasn't allowed a homer in 66 innings, was not at his best Thursday over Kansas City. He won despite allowing four runs and a season-high 11 hits over 6 1-3 innings.

Tomlin will start for Cleveland after Aaron Laffey was placed on the disabled list Friday with shoulder fatigue.

Tomlin went 8-4 with a 2.68 ERA at Triple-A Columbus. The right-hander has gone 51-24 with a 3.20 ERA in the minor leagues since being drafted by the Indians in the 19th round in 2006.

"He deserves to be up here and get this start," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website. "He has done nothing but pitch well as long as he's been in the minor leagues."

While Rodriguez failed to go deep Monday, Nick Swisher hit a solo homer and Curtis Granderson added a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning.

New York has won 15 of 19 and remained three games ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East.