(Best E Casino) - With their longest skid in nearly four years behind them, the
Cleveland Indians will now try to take the three-game series from the
Texas Rangers, as the clubs meet in the finale today at Progressive Field.
On Saturday, Ben Francisco went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, lifting Cleveland to a 5-2 win. Jhonny Peralta also went deep for the Indians, who ended a season-worst seven-game losing streak.
Starter Cliff Lee (7-1) notched the win for Cleveland, scattering seven hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings, fanning eight and walking four.
David Murphy and Ian Kinsler knocked in a run each while Josh Hamilton and Michael Young added two hits each for the Rangers, whose three-game win streak ended.
Scott Feldman (1-2) took the loss and was tagged for six hits and five runs over six full frames.
Taking the hill for the Rangers today will be Doug Mathis, who was pounded in his first major league start against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Filling for the injured Kevin Millwood, the 24-year-old right-hander was tagged for nine runs - six earned - and eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings of an 11-4 loss to Minnesota. He had thrown three scoreless innings of relief before his dismal performance on Tuesday.
Mathis has never faced Cleveland in his brief major league career and this will probably be his last start, as Millwood (groin) was cleared to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
Getting the nod for the Tribe will be ace C.C. Sabathia and he is looking to continue his recent success. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner started off the season slowly, but appears to have regained his form, posting a 1.66 ERA over his last six starts.
The hard throwing left-hander was last in action on Tuesday, when he allowed just two earned runs and seven hits over seven innings of a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He struck out eight batters, but had a personal two-game win streak stopped due to a lack of run support.
Sabathia, who is just 2-4 with a 6.07 ERA at home this season, is 7-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against Texas.
Cleveland is 12-8 versus Texas since the start of the 2006 season.
