Yankees 3, Angels 2
The team of the 1900s began the 2000s with a win.
Paul O'Neill and Shane Spencer homered, Orlando Hernandez pitched out of jams and Mariano Rivera converted his 23rd straight save chance as the New York Yankees opened with a 3-2 win at the Anaheim Angels on Monday night.
In his first opening-day assignment, Hernandez gave up eight hits but struck out Mo Vaughn three times.
"I just kept getting him out," El Duque said through a translator. "You have to be careful that you make quality pitches to Mo Vaughn because he is one of the best hitters in baseball."
The Yankees began their bid to become the first team to win three straight world championships since the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics by winning for the first time in five West Coast openers.
INDIANS 4, ORIOLES 1: Travis Fryman and Kenny Lofton hit solo homers at Camden Yards in Cleveland's first game since firing Mike Hargrove, who became Baltimore's manager.
Winner Bartolo Colon allowed one run and three hits in five innings.
RANGERS 10, WHITE SOX 4:Gabe Kapler became the first player to homer in his first two at-bats with the Rangers, and AL MVP Ivan Rodriguez drove in five runs with two more homers.
BLUE JAYS 5, ROYALS 4: At SkyDome, Tony Batista and Shannon Stewart each homered twice, with Batista connecting in the ninth for a game-winning homer off Jerry Spradlin.
Toronto closer Billy Koch got his first career win after wasting a 4-2 lead in the ninth when Gregg Zaun hit a two-run single.
DEVIL RAYS 7, TWINS 0: Gerald Williams homered off Brad Radke on the first pitch of the season at the Metrodome, and Fred McGriff hit a grand slam.
Steve Trachsel joined the Devil Rays in January after nine seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization.
TIGERS 7, ATHLETICS 4: Dean Palmer went 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs for the Tigers. Juan Gonzalez, acquired from Texas in a nine-player trade, went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Kevin Appier allowed six runs.