MLB

Hoping for brighter skies

FAMILIAR FACE: Old friend Jason Giambi belts a home run against A.J. Burnett last night to lead his current team, the Rockies, to a 4-2 triumph over his former team, the Yankees, last night at the Stadium.

FAMILIAR FACE: Old friend Jason Giambi belts a home run against A.J. Burnett last night to lead his current team, the Rockies, to a 4-2 triumph over his former team, the Yankees, last night at the Stadium. (Paul J. Bereswill)

This was supposed to be a homestand of celebration.

Old Timers’ Day is tomorrow and Joe Torre will be welcomed back to Yankee Stadium. This is the homestand Derek Jeter was going to nail down hit No. 3,000.

Jeter remains in Tampa with no idea when he will start running. His strained right calf could take much longer to heal than expected.

Instead of celebration, this is a homestand of survival now.

CAPTAIN’S QUEST FOR 3,000

BOX SCORE

In the long run, though, that’s just what these Yankees need. What’s a few more hurdles for a team that has been jumping over them all season?

Ubaldo Jimenez, who has struggled this year, found his 2010 magic and limited the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in Colorado’s 4-2 victory last night.

Ex-Yankee Jason Giambi had a Giambino night and homered in his first at-bat. Troy Tulowitzki hit another solo shot in the fifth inning against the maddening A.J. Burnett, who managed to walk five Rockies, but also struck out four in the sixth inning, a Yankees franchise record for strikeouts in an inning.

Despite their continuing issues, the Yankees remain only one-half game out of first place in the AL East and post the third-best record in the majors behind the Phillies and Red Sox. A win last night, and the Yankees would have moved into first place because the Red Sox fell to the Pirates, but it didn’t happen.

There will be more setbacks like last night, but this team has shown talent, toughness and depth. General manager Brian Cashman promised the best is yet to come.

“We have a championship-caliber team,” Cashman told the Post. “And it will get better when we get Derek off the DL. This is a very talented team.”

The Yankees have to find a way to stay in survival mode with all the problems they are facing. Yes, they’ve been criticized to their core, at least what’s left of it.

“This is a no-excuses team,” Alex Rodriguez said. “We have a very blue-collar approach. No matter what number Joe [Girardi] calls on, who’s in the lineup, we feel that we are good enough to win the ballgame. I’m proud of the way this team is working hard and is being resilient.”

It doesn’t always work out.

“Most teams go through struggles and injuries,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve had to overcome some adversity and I think we are reacting well to it.”

That will come back to help the Yankees when they face tough times in October. Last year in the ALCS, the Yankees wilted against the Rangers. Rodriguez drove in both Yankees runs last night and has an RBI in each of the last four games. He is batting .296.

Jeter’s replacement, Eduardo Nunez, picked up one hit but was then caught trying to steal second base. He also popped up twice in key situations.

Girardi, the Yankees manager, said overall team leadership has carried the team through the difficult times, and this experience will make them stronger down the road. Girardi has tried to build a family atmosphere in his clubhouse of millionaires.

Burnett was upset when Girardi he took him out after 105 pitches, but after the game admitted he should not have shown the type of disappointment he did coming off the field.

“I should probably watch that out there a little better,” Burnett said. “Joe has done such a good job out there with us. It’s never personal and he takes care of us really well, but you never want to come out of a game.”

Burnett’s starts are roller-coaster rides. This was no different. He said he found his groove late in the game, but as is often the case with Burnett, it was too many walks and too little, too late.

“I could have done a lot better,” said Burnett, the poster child for potential.

Asked if his late success offered hope for future starts, he smiled and said, “There’s always hope. Always.”

As long as the Yankees find a way to survive these difficult times.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com