New York beats Jays in final Yankee Stadium home baseball opener

AFP, April, 2008

NEW YORK (AFP) — Wang Chien-ming pitched seven strong innings as the New York Yankees ushered in the Joe Girardi era with a 3-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday in the final home opener at the current Yankee Stadium.

For the first time since April 1996, the Yankees took the field with a new manager.

Girardi was named to replace Joe Torre, who turned down a contract offer from New York following a third straight first-round exit in the playoffs.

Wang, of Taiwan, found himself locked in a duel with Toronto ace Roy Halladay.

Wang allowed just two runs - both on RBI groundouts - and seven hits as his teammates rallied with a pair of runs in the sixth ...