Oakland @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2011 ) Oakland 6, NY Yankees 5

THE STORY: New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia will try to break out of his August slump when he takes the mound against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in the second of a three-game series. Sabathia, who has earned a decision in 23 consecutive starts, actually has a career losing record (7-8) against Oakland, one of only four teams he is below .500 against. That record is deceiving, however, because the big lefthander has gone 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA in his last seven starts against the Athletics dating to May 2008. He will be opposed by struggling Oakland righthander Trevor Cahill.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), WWOR (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (9-12, 4.17 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (17-7, 2.96).

The wheels are starting to come off for Cahill, who has lost three straight decisions and is 1-7 in his last 10 starts. He actually pitched pretty well in his first three starts in July, but he has been roughed up for at least seven runs in three of his last five outings. That included a brutal performance at Yankee Stadium on July 22, when he was hammered for nine runs on 10 hits in two-plus innings. Sabathia halted a two-game losing streak last time out despite allowing four runs on 10 hits. It was the third time in four starts that he has given up 10 hits this month. Contrast that with July, when Sabathia gave up a mere four runs and 18 hits in five starts. A win against Oakland would make Sabathia the second pitcher in franchise history to win at least 18 games in each of his first three seasons with the team.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (77-49): New York’s offense took too long to wake up in Tuesday’s series opener, dropping the Yankees into a tie atop the American League East with Boston. Nick Swisher drilled a three-run homer in the eighth and Jorge Posada added a solo shot in the ninth before Swisher flew to the warning track with the bases loaded to end the game. The Yankees went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Derek Jeter had three hits to move into a tie with Rod Carew for 22nd on the all-time list with 3,053. It was hit eighth multi-hit game in his last 11. Robinson Cano stretched his hitting streak to 14 games.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (58-70): Some fresh faces sparked an offensive outburst for Oakland, which had scored only seven runs in its four-game series with Toronto. Brandon Allen, who was acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline and called up from Triple A Sacramento on Aug. 13, hit a pair of mammoth home runs. They were his first with the Athletics and boosted his average to .394 in 10 games. Rookie Eric Sogard hit his first career major league homer and Scott Sizemore added a two-run, pinch-hit double.

FINAL PITCH: Alex Rodriguez sat out Tuesday with a jammed thumb that he injured in his first game since undergoing knee surgery on July 11. He is scheduled to meet with investigators for Major League Baseball on Friday in regard to allegations that he participated in high-stakes poker games that involved high-profile celebrities, drugs and violence.