(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees take aim at a season-high fourth straight win this evening, when they open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.

New York started its nine-game homestand by getting swept by the Detroit Tigers in three meetings, but answered with a three-game sweep of its own against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend.

Darrell Rasner gave the Yankees' rotation a much-needed boost in Sunday's finale with the M's, as he tossed six solid innings. Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back homers in a six-run third inning that lifted New York to an 8-2 win.

Rasner, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed just two runs on five hits for the Yankees, who moved one game above .500 on the year at 17-16.

The Yankees' much-maligned starters allowed just four runs in 18 innings in sweeping the Mariners.

Ross Ohlendorf, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera closed things out on Sunday with an inning of scoreless relief apiece. Rivera has not given up an earned run in 13 innings pitched this season.

Derek Jeter finished 4-of-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the win, while Bobby Abreu was 3-for-4 and drove in a run. Hideki Matsui also extended his hitting streak to 14 games for the Yankees.

The Yankees hope Andy Pettitte can keep up the recent string of strong starting pitching when he toes the hill tonight trying to snap a personal two- game losing streak. Pettitte was tagged with the loss on Wednesday against the Tigers, as he allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings. That dropped him to 3-3 on the year and raised his earned run average to 3.93.

Pettitte lost to the Indians two starts ago and is 6-8 lifetime against them with a 4.63 ERA in 17 starts.

Cleveland will counter with 24-year-old right-hander Fausto Carmona, who is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA this season. Carmona received a no decision against the Seattle Mariners in his last start on April 29, allowing just two runs (1 earned) and eight hits in 6 2/3 frames. He also walked four and struck out two in his team's 7-2 setback.

Carmona has faced the Yankees five times, including two starts, and is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in those outings.

Cleveland comes into this series reeling after getting swept in a rain- shortened two-game series over the weekend by the Kansas City Royals. The Tribe's bats were put to sleep by KC's Gil Meche on Sunday, as Cleveland dropped a 2-0 decision at Progressive Field.

Aaron Laffey (0-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Tribe. The left-hander tossed seven effective frames, giving up one unearned run and four hits while fanning five and walking a pair.

Ryan Garko had two hits for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last seven.

The Yankees split a four-game series with the Indians earlier in the year, but have won 10 of the last 12 overall meetings in this series. New York has also been a stingy host, having won eight of its last 10 at home in the matchup.