New York @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) NY Yankees 1, Cleveland 3
The New York Yankees' road trip certainly hasn't been a productive one. Manager Joe Girardi's club has won just one of the five contests while averaging 2.8 runs and batting .231 as its lead dwindled to 3 1/2 games in the American League East. The Yankees will look to rebound and take the rubber match of their three-game series with the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
New York's offense couldn't come up with the big hit on Saturday, as it left 10 runners on base between the fourth and seventh innings en route to a 3-1 setback. Cleveland benefited from Michael Brantley's three-run homer in the first inning to snap its nine-game losing skid. The victory was the Indians' lone one in five outings versus the Yankees this season.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (7-5, 4.96 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (9-12, 5.59)
Garcia carries a three-game winning streak into Sunday's tilt. The 35-year-old Venezuelan improved to 8-6 in his career versus Cleveland after striking out two in 2 1/3 innings of relief on June 27. Garcia struggled in his last outing, yielding five runs in 4 1/3 frames before receiving a no-decision.
The wheels have come off for Jimenez, who has dropped five of his last six outings. The 28-year-old Dominican struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings, but did not pick up a decision in a 5-3 loss to Seattle on Monday. Jimenez yielded four runs in six innings to take the loss versus the Yankees on June 27.
WALK-OFFS
1. Derek Jeter, who went 2-for-5 on Saturday, has collected 13 hits in his last six games. Jeter has yet to face Jimenez in his career.
2. Cleveland SS Asdrubal Cabrera has struggled mightily of late, going 0-for-4 for the third time in four games. Indians manager Manny Acta noted that Cabrera has been playing through some leg soreness.
3. Yankees RF Nick Swisher, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, is riding a 15-game hitting streak at Progressive Field.