Colorado @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2011 ) Colorado 4, NY Yankees 2

THE STORY: The New York Yankees will look to snap a modest two-game losing streak when they host the Colorado Rockies in the second of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon. The Yankees have to like their chances with workhorse ace CC Sabathia taking the mound against Colorado’s Aaron Cook. Good things usually happen for New York with Sabathia on the mound, and it’s not restricted to his pitching. The Yankees have scored 22 runs in his last two outings and are providing the burly lefty with more than 8 ½ runs of support per start.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT, YES

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Aaron Cook (0-2, 4.67 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (9-4, 3.39 ERA)

Cook is winless in four starts since coming off the disabled list with a fractured finger on his right hand. He lost his last two starts, including a 9-1 defeat vs. Detroit on Sunday in which he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. He's not an overpowering pitcher, relying primarily on a sinkerball. Cook has never faced the Yankees, but he threw three innings in the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia has won his last two starts and is 6-1 in his last seven, although he hasn't been at his sharpest of late. In his last three outings spanning 20 2/3 innings, Sabathia has allowed 14 runs and 24 hits. He always gives the Yankees innings, pitching fewer than 6 2/3 just once in his last 12 starts. Sabathia has struggled against Colorado, going 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in five career starts.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (43-31): New York’s offense continues to sputter, producing only eight runs and 15 hits in the last three games. The Yankees scraped out five hits – two by Nick Swisher – in Friday’s 4-2 loss. Alex Rodriguez accounted for both runs with an RBI double in the first and a sacrifice fly in the third to extend his hitting streak to five games. Robinson Cano, on the other hand, went 0-for-4 and had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games. The Yankees lead the majors in home runs but don’t have one player batting .300.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (38-37): Colorado moved above .500 for the first time since May 24 with its seventh win in ninth games. Jason Giambi made a triumphant return to Yankee Stadium, collecting three hits and a solo homer. It was the second three-hit game in the last three for Giambi, who’s getting a chance to play with the DH in interleague play. Troy Tulowitzki homered for the first time in 10 games and Carlos Gonzalez continues to thrive in the leadoff spot. He was 2-for-4 Friday and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games.

FINAL PITCH: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s chances of returning when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list on June 29 are becoming increasingly slim. Jeter hasn’t been cleared to take grounders or swing a bat and has yet to try running on his strained calf.