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(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees really need Hiroki Kuroda to be the pitcher he was in the first half if they have any intention on reaching the postseason. The Japanese right-hander goes after his first win in seven starts on Thursday when the Yankees play the rubber match of their three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Kuroda was one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first four months of the season, as he went 10-6 with a 2.38 ERA at the start of August. However, he is just 1-5 since then and has pitched to a 6.69 ERA over his last six starts (0-4). He gave up five runs over six innings in a loss on Friday at Boston, although he settled in after a four-run first. "As a starter, I think my responsibility is to go at least six or seven innings," Kuroda said afterward through an interpreter. "Thats what Im telling myself to do." One of Kurodas bad outings came in Toronto back on Aug. 28, when he allowed seven runs (5 earned) in five innings. He is 4-2, though, in his career against the Jays with a 3.71 ERA. New York kept its fleeting postseason hopes alive on Wednesday, as Vernon Wells two-run double in the top of the eighth inning capped a late rally that propelled the Yankees to a much-needed 4-3 win. The Yankees averted a fifth straight loss by putting up four runs in the eighth, with Robinson Cano and Alfonso Soriano each coming through with RBI hits in front of Wells go-ahead double. The victory also closed New York within 2 1/2 games of Texas for the ALs second wild card spot. David Huff (3-1) contributed to the comeback by tossing 3 2/3 innings of one- run ball in relief of starter Phil Hughes, while Mariano Rivera shut the door with a four-out save in which he worked out of a mild jam in the ninth. Toronto received a two-run homer from Colby Rasmus, his fourth in as many games, and a solo shot from Ryan Goins, but had just six other hits and fell to 2-6 on its current nine-game homestand. J.A. Happ threw seven-plus strong innings for the Blue Jays in a no-decision, permitting just one run on four hits while striking out a season-high seven. Steve Delabar (5-5) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits and registering only one out in the eighth. "Ive just happened to hit a rough bump lately, but its not going to change my mindset from day to day," said Delbar. "Im going to come back tomorrow and get right back at it." Heading to the hill for the Jays on Thursday will be righty Todd Redmond, who is 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA. Redmond did not get a decision Friday against Baltimore, despite a solid outing that saw him allow just a run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss. Redmond was on the other end of the Kuroda loss back on Aug. 28 and held the Yanks to two runs in 5 2/3 innings of that one. New York has won 14 of its 18 meetings with the Jays this season. In fact, since 2001, Toronto has won the head-to-head matchup with New York just one time, going 10-8 against the Yanks in 10. Cheap Steelers Jerseys . Wheeler scored at 4:58 of overtime, with Scheifele getting an assist, and the Jets beat the slumping Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Sunday night. Steelers Jerseys China . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U. http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/. Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said.ST. LOUIS -- David Backes scored twice and Jaden Schwartz added a goal and two assists to lead the St. Louis Blues over the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Thursday night. St. Louis has won eight of 11 overall. At 13-2-2, the Blues tied Boston, Pittsburgh and Minnesota for most home-ice wins. Toronto lost its third in a row. Alexander Steen, Derek Roy and Chris Stewart scored for St. Louis, which has points in its last six games against Toronto. The teams met for the first time since Nov. 10, 2011. Nazem Kadri, Nikolai Kulemin and James van Riemsdyk scored for the Maple Leafs, who got two goals in the final 5 1/2 minutes. Brian Elliott, appearing in his third successive game, made 19 saves to improve to 6-1-1. Steen scored his 22nd goal, second in the NHL to Washingtons Alex Ovechkin, who has 26 goals. Schwartz recorded the second three-point game of his career. St. Louis scored three times in the first 16::10 to chase goalie James Reimer, who faced 15 shots.dddddddddddd It was the seventh time this season the Blues have sent a starting goaltender to an early exit. Backes got the first and last goals of the game. He beat Reimer with a 20-foot wrist shot at 4:48 of the first period. He scored into an empty net for his 15th goal and giving him 29 points, one more than his total for all of last season. Schwartz and Roy scored 3:11 apart to push the lead to 3-0. NOTES: St. Louis took 36 shots to Torontos 22. The Maple Leafs have outshot their opponents only four times this season. ... The Blues are 18-1-2 when scoring first. ....Toronto D Paul Ranger played in his 300th NHL game. ... St. Louis has scored at least two goals in all 17 home games this season. ... Maple Leafs D Dion Phaneuf served the final game of a two-game suspension for a hit on Bostons Kevan Millar on Sunday. .... Toronto has not won in regulation in its last 12 games. ' ' '