• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Yankees-Indians Preview

Jul 29, 2010 - 4:50 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (63-36) at Cleveland (42-58), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Alex Rodriguez has one final chance to hit homer No. 600 in Cleveland.

Homerless in his last six games, the three-time AL MVP looks to reach the milestone Thursday night when the New York Yankees try to capture a four-game set from the Indians.

Every at-bat for Rodriguez in this series has been a major event, with Cleveland fans positioning themselves in the bleachers hoping to catch the homer that will make Rodriguez the seventh player to 600.

Those fans have been disappointed as he went hitless in eight at-bats in the first two games before going 2 for 5 with a double in Wednesday's 8-0 victory.

"I'm not upset because I had a good approach and went deep into the count tonight," Rodriguez said.

The third baseman is 9 for 45 with no homers in his last 12 games at Progressive Field.

He has a single in two at-bats against rookie right-hander Mitch Talbot (8-9, 4.08 ERA), who looks to avoid a second loss in as many starts against the Yankees. Talbot gave up three runs over 6 1-3 innings in that 11-2 defeat May 31, when Rodriguez had a season-high six RBIs.

Talbot is 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA in his last four outings, allowing five runs in 5 2-3 innings in Saturday's 6-3 defeat to Tampa Bay.

The Yankees (64-36) remained two games ahead of the Rays in the AL East by building an eight-run lead Wednesday after four innings. Robinson Cano homered and Mark Teixeira and Brett Gardner each drove in two runs.

Jorge Posada went 1 for 5 as the designated hitter, returning to the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's loss with a sore left knee. Posada said the issue has bothered him since 2006, and he expects to play through it.

"It's been there for a while," Posada told the Yankees' official website. "It's just part of it. Catchers do get that. It's one of those things you've got to just take care of."

A return behind the plate would give him a chance to catch Dustin Moseley's first start with the Yankees. Moseley (0-0, 4.22) is taking the place of Sergio Mitre, who gave up seven runs over 4 1-3 innings in Saturday's 7-4 loss to Kansas City while filling in for an injured Andy Pettitte.

Moseley finished that game, allowing one hit over 4 2-3 innings, and now makes his first start since April 17, 2009, with the Los Angeles Angels.

"I think this a great opportunity," Moseley said. "It's a blessing for me to go out there, and if I go out and pitch like I'm capable, hopefully, there will be another start involved."

The right-hander is 5-4 with a 5.69 ERA in 23 career starts, pitching into the seventh inning twice. He's 2-0 with a 4.76 ERA in three career starts against the Indians, beating them in his major league debut July 17, 2006.

Cleveland (42-59) has totaled 14 runs in losing five of seven. Center fielder Trevor Crowe has been a bright spot with a .378 average over his last 14 games, including three hits Wednesday.