Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - 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.

"It was a good game for the Yanks," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Hughes and Dusty were both great. Yankee Stadium, Fenway... it's awfully tough to win in these ballparks. The opposing team has got that magic...makes it awfully tough."

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.

"I think there's a different attitude in here. I think we're smarter," Damon said of the Yankees' ability to manufacture runs. "We have to win as many games as possible. If we have to bunt to do that, then so be it."

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.