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Aces Sabathia, Bonderman face off as Indians host Tigers

Aug 14, 2007 - 1:32 PM Detroit (65-53) at Cleveland (65-53) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians were embarrassed in their home ballpark over the weekend. They will need ace C.C. Sabathia to stop the bleeding if they want to end their slide.

Sabathia takes the hill Tuesday when the slumping Indians host the rival Detroit Tigers in the opener of a crucial two-game series between the co-leaders of the American League Central Division.

Since improving to 58-40 on July 22, Cleveland has dropped 13 of its last 20 games to fall into a tie with Detroit atop the division standings. Things hit rock bottom this past weekend, when the Indians were swept by the New York Yankees in a three-game series here.

The surging Yankees outscored the Indians, 22-6, in the three contests and completed a six-game sweep of the season series between the teams. Despite making a spirited late charge in Sunday's finale, Cleveland fell short in a 5-3 loss.

It was the seventh loss in the last eight home games for the Indians, who have managed a total of just 21 runs in those contests.

Sabathia (14-6, 3.52 ERA), who is looking to join Boston's Josh Beckett and Anaheim's John Lackey as the only 15-game winners in the majors, will make his fourth start against the Tigers this season.

The lefthander will target win No. 15 after missing out on his last opportunity on Wednesday, when he tossed seven solid frames but did not factor in the decision of a 6-4 loss to the White Sox.

Jeremy Bonderman (10-5, 4.75) will oppose Sabathia and try to end a personal four-start skid in which he has surrendered 29 runs in just 22 1/3 innings. This comes on the heels of his 10-1 start with a 3.53 ERA for the defending AL champions.