(Sports Network) - C.C. Sabathia will attempt to keep up a remarkable run by Cleveland starting pitchers when the defending American League Cy Young Award winner takes the mound for the Indians in tonight's tilt with the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Cleveland starters have not allowed a run over 34 consecutive innings that dates back to Sabathia's last start, which took place Friday against Toronto. The big lefty held the Blue Jays scoreless over his final two frames and delivered seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Tribe to a 6-1 triumph.

Aaron Laffey followed Sabathia's gem with seven shutout innings in Saturday's 12-0 rout over Toronto and Fausto Carmona fired a complete-game five-hitter in Cleveland's 3-0 decision over the Jays in Monday's opener of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, Cliff Lee threw nine shutout innings in a game that the Indians lost in 10 frames.

Paul Byrd kept the streak going in Tuesday's opener of a three-game series with the Athletics. The veteran hurler went the first 7 1/3 innings and teamed with two relievers on a six-hitter as the Indians downed Oakland, 4-0, at Progressive Field.

Byrd (2-3) yielded just five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter in an efficient 92-pitch outing. He outdueled A's starter Justin Duchscherer (3-2), who was dealt a hard-luck loss after surrendering just one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Masahide Kobayashi got the final four outs to notch his first career save for Cleveland, which has won four times in its last five games.

The Indians were clinging to a slim 1-0 lead until Ryan Garko smacked a three- run homer off Andrew Brown in the bottom of the eighth inning. Travis Hafner knocked in the other run for Cleveland with a first-inning single and finished 2-for-4 on the evening.

Oakland, which has lost three of its last four, will send Joe Blanton opposite Sabathia this evening. The durable righty has faced Cleveland twice already this year, recording a win and a loss while allowing a total of seven runs over a combined 14 1/3 innings.

Blanton's win over the Indians came at Progressive Field on April 11, although he was touched for five runs on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. In his most recent start, the Kentucky product posted a no-decision against Baltimore on May 7 in which he gave up two runs over 5 2/3 frames.

For his career, Blanton is just 2-4 with a 4.57 ERA in seven starts versus Cleveland.

Sabathia also pitched in that April 11 encounter but had a forgettable night, as the ace pitcher was rocked for nine runs and 12 hits while lasting just 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. Sabathia was also handed a defeat by the A's in Oakland on April 6, with the 27-year-old giving up four runs and walking four in 5 1/3 innings.

The Bay Area native's struggles against Oakland are nothing new, as Sabathia is 2-7 with a 6.84 ERA in 14 lifetime matchups with the Athletics.

Oakland had won four of its six meetings with Cleveland prior to Tuesday's setback and took two of three games from the Indians at Progressive Field last month.