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Sabathia looks to get Indians back on track vs. Devil Rays

Apr 20, 2007 - 1:49 PM Cleveland (6-6) at Tampa Bay (6-9) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the Cleveland Indians send ace C.C Sabathia to the mound against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

After losing the first two games of their three-game set against the New York Yankees, the Indians carried a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday. But closer Jor Borowski imploded, allowing six runs.

"I go out there and get two quick outs and then all of a sudden it looked like it was 4:00 p.m. out there, like batting practice," Borowski said. "Fastballs, breaking balls, up, down, in and out. They just hit everything. It's a shame because everybody played great and that's the last thing I foresaw coming."

Cleveland will look to Sabathia (3-0, 2.14 ERA), who has won his first three starts for the first time in his career, including a dominant performance in a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday in which he allowed one run and five hits in eight innings.

Sabathia is 6-1 with a 2.44 ERA in eight starts against Tampa Bay, including 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts at Tropicana Field.

Edwin Jackson (0-2, 8.31) takes the hill for the Devil Rays, who have alternated wins and losses in their last eight games. Jackson allowed five runs - four earned - three hits and five walks in three innings in a 12-4 loss at Minnesota last Saturday.