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Yankees playoff hopes beginning to fade

Aug 16, 2008 - 10:43 AM Kansas City (55-67) at NY Yankees (64-58) 1:05 p.m. EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees' playoff hopes are beginning to fade away.

The Yankees try to bounce back from a difficult loss against the Kansas City Royals when the teams face off on Saturday.

New York enters the game third in the American League East Division, 10 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays (74-47), and seven back of the rival Boston Red Sox (71-51) in the AL Wild Card race.

The Yankees had a chance to make up some ground on Friday against the Royals, who own the second-worst record in the AL, but Esteban German scored on closer Mariano Rivera's wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning as Kansas City claimed a 4-3 victory.

New York had its opportunities, but went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11, en route to its eighth loss in the last 11 games.

"They're tough," New York starter Andy Pettitte said. "Every loss right now is obviously tough. It's so difficult to get a win."

Sidney Ponson (7-3, 4.27 ERA) tries to get the Yankees a win when he takes the mound. Ponson owns a 4-1 record with a 3.18 ERA over his last six starts against the Royals and is looking to rebound after surrendering four runs in 7 2/3 frames during Monday's 4-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Zack Greinke (9-8, 4.09) counters for the Royals after serving a five-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl against the Chicago White Sox on August 3. Greinke was ejected after hitting Nick Swisher with a pitch in the seventh inning.