Time appears to be running out for the New York Yankees.
They try to keep their fading postseason hopes alive on Friday when they open a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium.
New York's postseason hopes took a huge hit this past week, as it dropped two of three to lowly Toronto culminating with a 6-2 loss on Thursday at Rogers Centre.
New York scored in just three of 27 innings in this series and has managed just 13 runs in dropping five of six, a slide that has damaged its hopes for obtaining one of the AL's wild card berths. The Yankees trail Tampa Bay and Texas by 3 1/2 games for the two available spots
"It's tough," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "They're all tough at this point. We haven't swung the bats that well for the last week."
The Yankees did receive a solo homer from Curtis Granderson, with Robinson Cano going 2-for-4 with a double in the setback.
Hiroki Kuroda (11-12) lost his fifth consecutive decision after surrendering three runs on eight hits over six innings.
Heading to the hill for the Yankees on Friday will be former AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia, who has lost his last two starts and is 13-13 with a 4.90 ERA. The big left-hander was roughed up by Boston on Saturday, as he allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings.
"It's very frustrating, because everybody keeps telling me I'm close, but I don't see it," Sabathia said. "I want results and I know the team wants results. I know the fans want results. It's just tough not being able to deliver."
Sabathia, who has won his last three starts at home, has beaten the Giants both times he has faced them, but will be making his first start against them since 2008 while with Milwaukee.
San Francisco, meanwhile, will counter with a former Cy Young winner of its own in Tim Lincecum, who appears to be ending the season on a high note. Lincecum is 4-0 with a 3.77 ERA over his last five starts. It's his best stretch since a five-game streak from April 5-May 15, 2010.
Lincecum, who has never faced the Yankees, is 10-13 with a 4.40 ERA on the year. He's also two strikeouts shy of becoming the seventh pitcher to get 1,500 with the Giants, and the first since Gaylord Perry in 1971.
San Francisco, which will be the first team to finish with a losing record the season after winning the World Series since St. Louis in 2007, took two of three from the New York Mets and has won five of six.
The Giants haven't faced the Yankees since taking two of three from them back in 2007. San Fran, though, lost two of three in its only other trip to the Bronx.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.