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Indians hope Lee helps reverse fortunes

Jun 20, 2008 - 1:36 PM Cleveland (33-40) at LA Dodgers (34-38), 10:40 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians send Cliff Lee to the mound Friday in hopes of ending their three-game losing streak when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Lee (10-1, 2.55 ERA) has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2008 campaign, recording nearly one-third of the club's wins this season.

The 29-year-old lefthander did not receive a decision during Saturday's 8-3 setback to the San Diego Padres. He allowed two runs and eight hits with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Lee, who won just 19 games over the past two seasons, will need to be at his best in this one. The Dodgers enter the series coming off a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, while the Indians were outscored by a 20-7 margin in their three consecutive losses to the Colorado Rockies.

Seeking its fourth straight win, Los Angeles will turn to 20-year-old rookie Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 3.75).

Kershaw, who will make his sixth career start, is still seeking his first major league win after not receiving a decision in Sunday's 5-4 setback to the Detroit Tigers. The lefthander tossed four scoreless frames, yielding two hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.