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(Sports Network) - Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia gets his third crack at win No. 1 of 2008 this evening, when the Cleveland Indians open a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field.

Sabathia, who won 19 games with a career-best 3.21 earned run average a year ago, has struggled in his first two starts this season, going 0-1 while surrendering nine runs in 10 2/3 frames.

The 27-year-old left-hander, who grew up in the Bay Area, suffered his first loss of the season Saturday against the A's, who battered him for four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Sabathia fell to 2-6 lifetime against Oakland to go along with a 6.75 ERA.

Cleveland enters this series after dropping two of three to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, including a 9-5 setback in Wednesday's rubber match at Angel Stadium. Kelly Shoppach homered in the loss, while Jhonny Peralta went 3-for-5 -- including a solo homer - for the Indians.

Paul Byrd (0-2) was shelled in his second straight start for the Indians, allowing six runs on five hits with a pair of walks in just three innings.

The Tribe made some news off the field on Thursday, as they signed pitcher Fausto Carmona to a long-term contract.

Financial details of the pact were not disclosed, but the first four seasons are guaranteed through 2011 and the club holds options for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Oakland, meanwhile, completed a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 3-2 victory on Thursday. Travis Buck drove in all three A's runs, including the game-winning, two-RBI double in the 12th inning.

Buck, who was hitless in his first 21 at-bats of the season, finished the series 7-for-16 with four RBI and six doubles, which were a club record for a three-game series.

Joey Devine (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day when Rich Harden was placed on the disabled list, earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Keith Foulke recorded the final three outs and notched his first save of the young season.

Oakland's Joe Blanton heads to the hill tonight for the fourth time this season, but is also searching for his first win of the year. Blanton was charged with the loss Sunday against Cleveland, as he allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to fall to 0-2 on the season to go along with a 3.44 ERA.

Blanton, who has surrendered just seven runs in his 18 1/3 innings of work this season, has faced the Tribe six times in his career and is 1-4 against them with a 4.30 ERA.

Oakland took two of three from the Indians last weekend after losing six of 10 to them a year ago.

The Indians have won seven consecutive home series. Their last series loss at home was to the New York Yankees from August 10-12, 2007.