(Sports Network) - C.C. Sabathia tries to win his third straight start this evening when the Cleveland Indians start a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

After losing five of his first six decisions to start the year, Sabathia seems to have re-found the form that made him the AL Cy Young Award winner a year ago. Sabathia tossed a five-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics to run his record to 3-5 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 5.47.

He had surrendered just a run and six hits with nine strikeouts in winning his previous start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sabathia received a no-decision against the White Sox earlier in the year and is 14-3 lifetime against them with a 3.66 ERA. He is also 7-0 in 11 road starts against them.

Cleveland could certainly use another big start from its ace this evening after getting swept in a three-game series over the weekend by their intra- state rival Cincinnati Reds. The Indians managed just nine runs in the series and fell, 6-4, in Sunday's finale at Great American Ballpark, giving the surprising Cliff Lee his first loss of the season.

Lee (6-1) had won his first six starts before a no-decision six days ago against Toronto, in which he threw nine scoreless innings. He had not allowed an earned run over 30 2/3 innings of four road starts entering the contest, but on Sunday was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits in just 5 2/3 innings.

Lee, who fell to 10-2 lifetime in interleague play, saw his earned run average balloon from 0.67 to 1.37.

Michael Aubrey homered for Cleveland, while Jamey Carroll, Victor Martinez and Casey Blake each drove in a run in defeat.

Chicago, meanwhile, has won five in a row after sweeping the San Francisco Giants over the weekend at AT&T Park. The White Sox completed the sweep on Sunday, as Nick Swisher stroked a pinch-hit three-run double in the eighth inning to put Chicago ahead for good in a 13-8 win.

Orlando Cabrera hit a pair of homers and drove in three runs in the win, while Carlos Quentin and Joe Crede homered for Chicago, which pounded out a season- high 15 hits.

Matt Thornton (1-0) threw two-thirds of an inning to get the victory and Nick Masset pitched the final two frames for his first career save.

The White Sox have not won six straight since a nine-game run from June 15- August 24, 2006.

Chicago will send Cuban righty Jose Contreras to the hill this evening, as he also tries to win his third straight start. Contreras defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday, serving up a run and four hits in seven innings to improve to 4-3 while lowering his ERA to 3.35.

Contreras has allowed one run in four of his eight starts this season and has given up four runs in each of his other four outings.

The 36-year-old hurler has faced the Tribe 11 times (10 starts) and is 4-2 against them with a 3.30 ERA.

Cleveland took two of three from the White Sox earlier in the season and is 24-16 in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign. The Tribe also won six of nine in Chicago last season.