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Indians LHP Sabathia looks to remain unbeaten

May 11, 2007 - 1:58 PM Cleveland (20-12) at Oakland (17-16) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia looks to remain unbeaten when he takes the mound for the Cleveland Indians on Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.

The lefthander has won his first five starts for the first time in his career and ranks second in the American League with 53 strikeouts. In his last outing, Sabathia (5-0, 3.45 ERA) yielded three runs and nine hits in seven innings, while striking out nine and walking just one.

But as a native of nearby Vallejo, California, the burly ace has struggled in Oakland, posting a 1-4 record with a 6.40 ERA in 10 career starts against the A's - including a 1-2 mark with a 6.97 ERA in Oakland.

The Indians have lost just five times in their last 18 contests, but dropped the last two against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, including an 8-0 defeat on Thursday. Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers surrendered six runs, nine hits and a walk, striking out two in five innings.

Oakland will counter with Joe Blanton (3-1, 3.61), who has gone at least six innings in six of his seven starts this season. He allowed three runs and a career-high tying 11 hits in 7 1/3 frames in a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Blanton has lost both of his career starts vs. the Indians, yielding seven runs in 12 innings for the A's, who have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games.

Eric Chavez homered and drove in a season-high four runs as Oakland rolled to its second straight series win with a 17-3 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.