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(Sports Network) - New York returns to Cleveland for the first time since Game 2 of last year's ALDS when a swarm of Lake Erie midges helped derail its playoff run. Hopefully the bugs will stay away this evening when the Yankees and Indians kick off a four-game set at Progressive Field.

The Yankees held a slim 1-0 lead in the eighth inning on that fateful night a year ago before reliever Joba Chamberlain became overwhelmed by the bugs swirling around his head and sticking to his neck, as he uncorked two wild pitches that led to Cleveland tying the game.

The Indians went on to win the contest in extra innings and won the series in four games overall. New York, though, swept the regular season series from Cleveland last year, winning all six matchups. The Yankees have won eight in a row in the series and have won five straight in Cleveland during the regular season.

Hoping to continue that trend tonight for the Yankees will be left-hander Andy Pettitte, who is off to a 3-1 start, while pitching to a 2.45 earned run average following a tumultuous offseason which saw him admit to using human growth hormone. Pettitte won his third straight start on Sunday in Baltimore, as he held the Orioles to four hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out five without walking a batter.

The 35-year-old left-hander, who pitched brilliantly in that eventful Game 2 affair a year ago, is just 6-7 lifetime against the Tribe with a 4.50 ERA in 16 starts.

New York was denied a sweep in its three-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, dropping a 7-6 decision in the finale at U.S. Cellular Field. Melky Cabrera went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Yankees, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end. Bobby Abreu had two hits and two RBI, and Jason Giambi was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Phil Hughes got the start, but was yanked after the 50-minute rain delay in the middle of the third inning. His line was two innings pitched, one hit and one strikeout. Chamberlain (1-1) absorbed his first major league loss by throwing 1 1/3 innings and yielding one run on two hits.

New York again played without star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is nursing a quadriceps injury. Rodriguez, though, rejoined the team on Thursday after spending the beginning of the week with his wife, who gave birth to the couple's second child. He is expected to play at some point this series.

The Yankees have other injury concerns, as well. Reliever Brian Bruney is expected to head back to New York to see a foot specialist and could hit the disabled list. Kyle Farnsworth also injured his elbow on Thursday. His injury, though, is not considered serious.

Cleveland, meanwhile, enters tonight's opener riding its longest winning streak of the season following a doubleheader sweep over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The Indians rode four hits, including a home run, from Grady Sizemore to win the opener, 9-6, before Cliff Lee's gem propelled the Tribe to a 2-0 win in the nightcap at Kauffman Stadium.

Lee (4-0) tossed his first major league shutout, scattering just three hits, fanning nine batters and walking none to lower his earned run average to a miniscule 0.28 on the season.

Paul Byrd, who like Pettitte has also been linked to the use of HGH, will look to duplicate that start tonight, as he takes the hill for the Indians still searching for his first win of the season. Byrd, who is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA, has pitched well of late, but still has no wins to show for it. On Sunday against Minnesota, Byrd allowed a run and six hits in seven innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 2-1 loss. He had allowed just an unearned run in his start before that, but also received a no- decision in that one.

Byrd has faced the Yankees eight times in his career and is 1-4 against them with a 4.44 ERA.