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Indians aim to snap losing streak

Jul 8, 2008 - 1:15 PM Cleveland (37-51) at Detroit (44-44) 7:05 p.m. EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- With one of their top pitchers off to greener pastures, the Cleveland Indians hope to halt an eight-game losing streak when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

The Indians, who are in last place in the American League Central, traded reigning AL Cy Young Award-winner CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for three minor-league prospects and a player to be named later.

Sabathia will make his debut for the Brewers on Tuesday, while the Indians will send struggling Jeremy Sowers (0-4, 7.53 ERA) to the mound.

Sowers has lost three straight starts and was rocked for eight runs in three innings during Cleveland's 9-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 30.

The Tigers, who split a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, will counter with Justin Verlander (5-9, 4.34).

The righthander has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last five starts and earned the victory in Detroit's 8-4 win over Seattle on Thursday. Verlander gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out three.

Cleveland has not lost nine straight since August 15-24, 2004.