Andy Pettitte tries to follow up a strong season debut on Tuesday when the New York Yankees go after a third straight win in the middle test of their three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Pettitte was terrific in beating the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, as he held them to eight hits and a run over eight innings. He also struck out three and walked a batter.
The 40-year-old left-hander owns a career mark of 8-8 versus the Tribe, but is 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last four starts against them.
Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Carlos Carrasco, who will be making his first start since Aug.3 2011. Carrasco missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and lost a rotation spot to Scott Kazmir this spring. Kazmir, though, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a rib cage injury.
"I just feel happy," Carrasco said. "I went to Columbus, and on Friday afternoon I received a call from the manager; he told me I was going to pitch on Tuesday. I'm just so excited and got surprised when he told me I was coming to Cleveland to pitch against the Yankees. The most important thing is I served my suspension and everything. Now, I can be here. I'm just getting ready for my start."
Carrasco, who is 1-1 in two starts versus the Yankees, also had to serve a five-game suspension stemming from an incident in 2011 against the Kansas City Royals.
"I feel healthy," Carrasco said. "Really, everything is coming together. I thought I was going to Columbus, but now everything is different. I can't wait to pitch (on Tuesday)."
Carrasco may have his hands full on Tuesday against a Yankees team that has seemingly found its stroke. On Monday, Travis Hafner belted a three-run homer in his first at-bat back in Cleveland, helping New York Yankees spoil the Indians' home opener with an 11-6 win.
Hafner, who spent the previous 10 years with the Indians, received a nice pregame ovation from the fans before tormenting his old club with a first- inning blast off Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1). He then broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI single in the third and also drew two walks.
"It was nice to come here and have a good game and help contribute to a win," Hafner said.
Robinson Cano clubbed two solo homers while going 3-for-4 with a walk and four runs scored for the Yankees, who have won two games in a row for the first time this season, improving their record to 3-4.
New York starter Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) overcame a shaky first inning to pitch into the sixth. Kuroda lasted just 1 1/3 innings in his first start of the season against Boston after suffering a bruised right middle finger when he tried to grab a Shane Victorino liner.
Jimenez allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings for Cleveland, which went 3-3 on its season-opening road trip.
"Today was one of those days where I thought he fought his mechanics a little bit," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said about Jimenez.
The Yankees took five of six from the Indians last season.
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