Colorado @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2011 ) Colorado 3, NY Yankees 8

THE STORY: On a day when the New York Yankees celebrate their past, they'll also be looking for continued success from one of the building blocks of their future in the finale of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Prior to the contest, the Yankees will hold their 65th annual Old Timers' Day game. Former Yankees manager Joe Torre will be among the first-timers to attend the game. Afterward, New York sends Ivan Nova to the mound against Juan Nicasio in a matchup of Dominican rookie righthanders.

TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, TBS, YES (New York), Root Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (2-1, 4.71 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (7-4, 4.13 ERA). Nicasio will be making his sixth major league start since he was promoted from Double A Tulsa at the end of last month. He had his worst outing last time out at Cleveland, yielding six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He also gave up a pair of homers and has surrendered four in his last three starts. Opponents are hitting at a .302 clip against Nicasio, who may need more seasoning in the minor leagues. Nova, who has won three consecutive starts, is coming off the best outing of his brief career. He shackled the Cincinnati Reds on one run and four hits while striking out seven in a career-high eight innings. It marked only the second time in 21 career starts that Nova did not walk a batter. The 24-year-old Nova also tied a season high with seven strikeouts. Five of the six homers he has allowed have come at Yankee Stadium.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (44-31): The Yankees pounded out 15 hits in Saturday’s 8-3 victory – as many as they accumulated in their previous three games combined. Alex Rodriguez had a pair of hits and three RBIs to extend his hitting streak to six games and reach the .300 mark for the first time since April 28. He also has driven in eight runs during a five-game RBI streak. Mark Teixeira hit his 22nd homer to take over the team lead from Curtis Granderson. The only regular not to get a hit Saturday was Robinson Cano, who is 0-for-8 in the series.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (38-38): Colorado went down meekly against Yankees ace CC Sabathia on Saturday. The lone exception was Troy Tulowitzki, who was 2-for-3 and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games. He is batting .358 (24-for-67) during that span. Ty Wigginton’s blast in the ninth inning gave him three homers and six RBIs in his last three games. Seth Smith had a pinch-hit RBI double that broke up Sabathia’s shutout bid and extended his hitting streak to five games. A possible issue Sunday will be the health of closer Huston Street, who was unavailable to pitch Saturday because of groin tightness.

FINAL PITCH: Longtime Yankees trainer Gene Monahan will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday's game. He is retiring at the end of the season, ending a 49-year run with the franchise.