Bobby Abreu singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as the Yankees rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a season-opening three-game series.

Abreu had two of the six hits for the Yankees, who came back from a 2-0 deficit and won with spectacular relief from the tandem of Billy Traber, Brian Bruney, Joba Chamberlain (1-0) and Mariano Rivera.

David Eckstein went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored for the Blue Jays, who left the potential tying run stranded at third base in the ninth.

Toronto’s Dustin McGowan gave up four hits and two runs over six innings, while Phil Hughes had a similar line in his start for New York.

Melky Cabrera singled to right field to start the New York eighth, and Scott Downs then replaced Brian Wolfe (0-1) on the mound for the Blue Jays. Johnny Damon put down a sacrifice bunt, but Downs bobbled the ball along the first base side, and both runners were safe. Derek Jeter then put down a sacrifice bunt before Abreu blooped a base hit in front of center fielder Vernon Wells.

The Yankees could’ve had more runs after Jason Giambi was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, but Robinson Cano flied out to end the inning.

Rivera, who also had the save in Tuesday’s 3-2 Yankees victory, allowed a single to Wells to start the ninth. Groundouts from Shannon Stewart and Lyle Overbay moved the potential tying run 90 feet from home plate, but Rivera froze Aaron Hill on a called third strike to end the game and get the save.

Eckstein doubled to lead off the fourth and scored an out later on an Alex Rios single to center. The Yankees stranded a runner at third in their half of the fourth, and it became 2-0 the next inning. Marco Scutaro walked with two outs and Gregg Zaun doubled before Eckstein’s infield hit widened Toronto’s lead.

The Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out and tied the game in the sixth. Damon doubled and Jeter was hit by a pitch on his left arm. Abreu then walked and Damon scored on a wild pitch by McGowan. After Alex Rodriguez struck out, Giambi hit a sac fly to right. The throw home by Rios was cut off and Abreu was thrown out trying to go to third.

Traber struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh and Bruney retired the next two batters before Chamberlain worked around a two-out single to Matt Stairs in the eighth to keep the game tied.

Game Notes

Rios extended his hit streak versus the Yankees to 23 games, dating back to the 2006 season…The Blue Jays will play their home opener on Friday against Boston in the opener of a three-game series, while the Yankees host Tampa Bay for four games, from this Friday to Monday…Blue Jays designated hitter Frank Thomas was ejected by home plate umpire Bill Miller after arguing a called third strike to end the top of the fourth.

Evander Holyfield arrives in Glasgow this week for the latest leg of a promotional tour of Great Britain to publicise his autobiography. There will be a stir of interest but nothing like the fanfare of adulation reserved for the heavyweight champion of the world during the sport’s golden era.

At 45, and with an historic career now captivatingly committed to hardback, this should be a fitting and graceful celebration of the only four-time heavyweight champion. Past tense. If only. With the division’s credibility in the midst of an elongated 10-count, Holyfield’s refusal to stay honourable in an increasingly dishonourable profession has spawned a commercially profitable but morally bankrupt spectacle that will confirm the sport’s sorry descent to self-parody.

Holyfield has revealed his intention to fight Mike Tyson, a bloated 41-year-old nightcrawler, and thus complete a trilogy that ought to be promoted by Tim Burton. The sad part is that not only will the geriatric bout be sanctioned by an opportunist state boxing commission but is also likely to draw a capacity crowd and a Pay Per View subscription in the millions.

Giants cornerback Corey Webster got a shot at redemption, too.

Webster, who was beaten badly on a 90-yard touchdown play in the second quarter from Brett Favre to Donald Driver, made amends in overtime with an interception to set up Lawrence Tynes‘ game-winning kick as the Giants beat the Packers 23-20 on Sunday night in the NFC championship game.

Tynes had missed two field-goal attempts in the final 6:49 of regulation that sent the game into overtime before hitting a 47-yarder. Webster stepped in front of Favre’s pass to Driver on the second play from scrimmage, setting up Tynes’ kick four plays later.

“I kind of figure that they would be looking to go to him,” Webster said. “I got a good jam on him at the line of scrimmage and then I was able to jump the route.”

Favre said that Driver ran a shake route, and his favorite target had slipped by Webster to the outside.

“I just didn’t get it out far enough, it’s too bad,” Favre said.

Webster, a third-year cornerback, had missed a jam on Driver earlier in the game and left the Packers’ top receiving threat wide open downfield after Favre first faked a short pass then a draw play.

Favre fired deep down the right sideline, and Driver made the catch in stride. From there, it was a foot race as Driver outran Webster and New York safeties James Butler and Gibril Wilson for a 90-yard effort, the longest passing play in Green Bay playoff history and Driver’s first TD catch since Week 3.

But Webster rebounded in a big way.

“I’ve been trying to use each game as a stepping stone,” Webster said. “As a team, we have been just grinding it out.”

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - LeBron James felt the Christmas spirit, dishing out 12 assists while pouring in 25 points, as the Cleveland Cavaliers used a big run late in the third quarter to top the Miami Heat, 96-82, in a battle between the last two Eastern Conference Champions.

Drew Gooden contributed 18 points and nine rebounds for the Cavs, which hosted a Christmas Day game for the first time since the 1984-85 season. Daniel Gibson added 16 points, including making 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Anderson Varejao finished with 15 points and grabbed seven boards, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 13 points to go with eight rebounds.

Dwyane Wade led the way with 22 points and eight assists for the Heat, snapping a three-game Christmas Day win streak. Ricky Davis scored 15 and Shaquille O’Neal had 13 points and nine boards, though he did avoid fouling out for what would have been a career-high sixth consecutive game. O’Neal sat out the final 6:57 with five personals.

At 8-20, the Heat have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers used a 15-0 streak to break the game open and regain the lead. James jumped in front of a pass by Udonis Haslem and ran out ahead all alone on a breakaway, finishing with a commanding one-handed slam to cap the burst. That moved the Cleveland to 67-59 with 1:48 to play in the third quarter.

In the final period, Varejao hit a reverse layup with 6:13 remaining to close out a 10-3 Cavs run. Cleveland extended its lead to 86-72 at that point, and Miami never came closer than 12 points the rest of the way.