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Indians eye first road sweep of Rangers in over 35 years

Aug 24, 2008 - 7:41 AM Cleveland (61-67) at Texas (63-67) 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- While another playoff run for their first World Series title since 1948 appears to be out of the question for the Cleveland Indians, they can do something on Sunday that has bugged them for a number of years.

The Indians seek to complete their first road sweep of the Texas Rangers in more than 35 years.

Cleveland used an eight-game winning streak from late August to early September to trigger a 31-12 run at the end of last season to capture the American League Central before it suffered a seven-game series loss in the AL Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox.

The Indians are doing what they can to match that run After overcoming a six-run deficit in Saturday's 8-7 victory over the Rangers, they have won a season-high six in a row, helping them to a 12-3 record over their last 15 contests.

However, they remain 12 1/2 games behind division-leading Minnesota (74-55).

Cleveland will turn to Anthony Reyes (2-1, 2.60 ERA), who was acquired last month in a trade from St. Louis. The righthander, who has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his three starts with his new team, was solid once again over five frames in Tuesday's 9-4 triumph over Kansas City, getting the win after permitting two runs and five hits.

The Rangers, who have not been swept at home by the Indians since August 10-12, 1973, will turn to their only pitcher with more than seven victories, Vicente Padilla (12-7, 4.96).

The righthander is winless over his last four outings, taking his second straight loss after allowing five runs and eight hits over six innings in an 11-3 defeat to the Tigers.