New York Yankees (29-21) at Cleveland Indians (22-30), 7:05 p.m.
Sports Network | June 1, 2009
(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians try to earn a split in their four- game series with the New York Yankees this evening when they play the finale of the set at Progressive Field.
After losing the first two games of this series, Cleveland pulled out a walk- off win on Sunday, as Jhonny Peralta singled home Trevor Crowe with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Indians to a 5-4 victory.
Crowe led off the ninth against Phil Coke (1-3) with a walk and advanced to second when Asdrubal Cabrera laid down a two-strike bunt. David Robertson came on and walked Ben Francisco before Peralta laced a base hit past a diving Alex Rodriguez at third base to easily score Crowe.
"The whole at-bat I tried to look for an inside pitch," said Peralta. "That's what they tried to throw to me and I got a good swing."
Peralta finished with three hits and three runs batted in for the Indians, who had swept a four-game set from Tampa Bay before losing the first two to the Yankees. Shin-Soo Choo and Mark DeRosa each drove in runs for Cleveland, while Cabrera chipped in a pair of hits and two runs scored as the Indians won despite blowing a four-run lead.
Mark Teixeira extended his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games and drove in all four of New York's runs with a two-run homer and a two-run double. Derek Jeter picked up a pair of hits, as did Johnny Damon in defeat. The Yankees had a three-game winning streak stopped and lost for just the fourth time in their last 18 games.
Teixeira, who is hitting .400 (22-for-55) with eight home runs and 20 RBI during the streak, has recorded multiple hits in eight of his past 10 games and 12 of his last 18 contests.
"I've been successful in my career, and that's why I'm here," Teixeira said. "Hopefully the law of averages catches up with you, and it has so far."
New York also did not commit an error for the 17th straight game, tying a major league record set by the Boston Red Sox in 2006.
Kerry Wood (2-2) picked up the win after working in and out of trouble in the top of the ninth.
Tonight the Indians turn to lefty Jeremy Sowers, who is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA. Sowers was impressive in picking up his first win of the year last Monday against Tampa, as he scattered three hits over five scoreless innings to nail down the win.
Sowers is 1-1 in three starts against the Yankees with a 6.60 ERA in three starts.
New York, meanwhile, will counter with righty Joba Chamberlain, who is 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA. Chamberlain, though, was awful against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, surrendering three runs on four hits with four walks in just four innings. He also struck out five batters in his team's 7-3 loss.
Chamberlain did not get a decision against the Indians earlier in the season when he allowed a season-high five runs in 4 2/3 innings of his team's 6-5 win. He is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in six appearances against the Tribe, but tonight will be just his second start against them.
New York has won four of its seven matchups with the Indians this season.
