Talk Bronx New York

Yanks Score 11th Straight Home Opener With WIN! 

Chien-Ming Wang hurled seven solid innings, and Melky Cabrera homered as New York edged Toronto, 3-2, in the 84th and final home opener at the current Yankee Stadium.

“The House That Ruth Built,” which opened in 1923 and was renovated from 1974-75, will be replaced by a $1.3 billion state-of-the-art ballpark, which will also be called Yankee Stadium, in 2009.

The game also featured the debut of new Yankees manager Joe Girardi, marking the first time that the Bronx Bombers took the field without Joe Torre at the helm since 1995.

After four World Series titles and 12 straight years of reaching the playoffs, the Yankees decided to offer Torre an incentive-laden contract, which he quickly turned down. So, the Yankees handed the managerial reins over to one of Torre’s former bench coaches, Girardi, who earned Manager of the Year honors in his one year as skipper of the Florida Marlins in 2006.

Wang (1-0) allowed just six hits and two runs for the Yankees, who have won 11 straight home-openers, a big league record. Alex Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored the game-winning run, while Bobby Abreu was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Star closer Mariano Rivera capped Girardi’s first win in the Bronx with a perfect ninth to earn the save. Rivera then gave his new manager the ball after recording the third out.

“It was an outstanding game,” Girardi said. “Melky played great and so did Jason (Giambi). This means a lot.”

Shannon Stewart and Marco Scutaro drove in a run apiece for the Blue Jays, who are coming off an 83-79 season. Toronto ace Roy Halladay (0-1) pitched well, surrendering three runs on seven hits in seven innings en route to the hard- luck loss.

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Robinson Cano Joins Yankees For 4 Year $30M Deal 

The Yankees traditionally have eschewed giving long-term contracts to their young players. Robinson Cano became an exception to that Thursday.

The Yankees finalized a four-year contract that guarantees second baseman Cano at least $30 million. With club options for 2012 and 2013, it could turn into a six-year, $57-million contract.

There have been times, general manager Brian Cashman said, that the Yankees have been on the path to getting something done, as with Derek Jeter years ago, but owner George Steinbrenner blanched. There have been other times, Cashman said, that the Yankees have wanted to do something but couldn’t get the player and agent to come to their negotiating neighborhood, as with a young Bernie Williams. But mostly, the Yankees simply haven’t tried to lock up players until they hit free agency.

“Robby is one of the emerging talents in the game,” Cashman said by phone. “He’s a tremendous hitter, and he’s dedicated to getting better and better … He has the chance, God willing, if he stays healthy and productive, he’s going to have a tremendous career. He’s already proven he can play in New York. When you have players that prove they can handle the stress and pressure of playing here, like Robby has, you’ve got to put your arms around them.”

Cano’s agent, Bobby Barad, said by phone: “We’re very happy. That was the goal when we started these conversations. We both knew each other quite well and had some conversations going back to as far as spring training. Just through those conversations, both of us had interest.”

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