(Sports Network) - C.C. Sabathia hopes to pitch better then he did on Opening Day when the Cleveland Indians continue their three-game series with the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum.

Sabathia, the AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, was unable to protect a five-run lead on Opening Day against the Chicago White Sox, as he surrendered five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 frames. He also struck out seven and walked three in his team's 10-8 win.

The 27-year-old lefty has had his struggles against Oakland, going just 2-5 lifetime against them with a 5.99 ERA against them in 12 starts.

Oakland will counter with left-hander Dana Eveland, who was acquired from Arizona as part of the Dan Haren deal. Eveland, who has never faced an American League opponent, was 1-0 in five games (one start) for the D'Backs last season, surrendering eight runs and eight hits in just five frames.

In the opener of this set on Friday, Ryan Sweeney went 4-for-4 with a run batted in, as Oakland rolled to a 6-3 win.

Justin Duchscherer (1-0) allowed just one run on four hits over five-plus innings, striking out six as the Athletics won for the first time in North America this season. Oakland had dropped two straight since winning the second game of their season-opening series against the Red Sox in Tokyo.

Duchscherer made his first start after four seasons as a reliever, but left the game in the sixth with slight biceps tendinitis.

Bobby Crosby went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Daric Barton was also 2-for-4 at the plate. Kurt Suzuki and Jack Hannahan both drove in a run in the win.

Ryan Garko and Travis Hafner each smacked solo home runs for the Indians, who dropped their second straight game. Garko also doubled, and Grady Sizemore added a two-hit night.

Paul Byrd (0-1) was roughed up for five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Cleveland won six of its 10 matchups with the A's last season, but is just 3-7 in Oakland over the past two seasons. The Indians, though, have lost 17 of their last 23 in Oakland since July 31, 2002.