Wed May 14 22:00:11 2008

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Sabathia dominant in complete game shutout over Oakland

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Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - C.C. Sabathia added to Cleveland's recent string of dominant starting pitching performances, tossing a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Oakland A's in the second contest of a three-game set at Progressive Field.

Sabathia (3-5) was virtually unhittable, fanning 11 and walking just two for Cleveland, whose starters have not allowed a run in an astounding 43 1/3 straight innings. The lefty threw just 117 pitches, of which 77 went for strikes.

Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko provided the offense with solo home runs, while Jhonny Peralta recorded two doubles for the Indians, who have won two in a row and five of six.

Athletics starter Joe Blanton (2-6) allowed just four hits and two walks in seven frames, but his lone two mistakes -- the pair of homers -- proved to be the difference.

Mike Sweeney had two of Oakland's five hits, and Bobby Crosby's double was the only extra-base hit in the club's fourth loss in five games.

Sizemore blasted Blanton's second offering of the game over the left field wall for his seventh home run of the season and 14th career leadoff shot.

Garko added his second home run in as many games in the fourth, taking a belt- high fastball into the left field seats for a two-run Cleveland edge.

A 1-2-3 double play ball off the bat of Peralta thwarted a bases-loaded rally for Cleveland in the fifth, but the A's bats couldn't take advantage.

Sabathia, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, allowed just two runners to reach second base and surrendered one hit in his final four frames -- a bunt single by Rajai Davis in the eighth.

Game Notes

Wednesday marked Sabathia's 13th double-digit strikeout performance and sixth shutout of his career...Cleveland starting pitchers Aaron Laffey, Fausto Carmona, Cliff Lee and Paul Byrd did not allow a run in their combined 32 1/3 innings over the previous four games. The last run the Indians' starters allowed was in the fifth inning of Sabathia's previous start, a 6-1 win over Toronto......The Indians have recorded shutouts in four of their last five games...Sabathia came into the game with a 2-7 record and a 6.84 ERA in 14 career matchups with the Athletics...The game lasted just two hours and eight minutes...The franchise record for longest consecutive scoreless innings by starting pitchers is 47 set in 1948.