On this date in 2000: The march to a three-peat begins

ANAHEIM, Calif. — On this date in 2000, the two-time defending World Series New York Yankees began their quest for a third. Out on the West Coast, the Yankees got off on the right foot with a 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Angels.

A Tim Salmon leadoff home run in the second stanza, off Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, staked the Halos to an early 1-0 edge.

While El Duque pitched into but mostly out of trouble, tossing seven innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits, yielding three walks and fanning four, the Yankees struck back.

Finally breaking through against Anaheim starter Ken Hill, Derek Jeter set the table with a single in the sixth. Paul O'Neill followed with the first Yankee home run of the aughts, a two-run blast to center, giving New York a 2-1 lead.

Shane Spencer added what turned out to be much-needed insurance with a home run to right off Kent Mercker in the seventh inning, making it 3-1.

After Jeff Nelson worked out of the eighth, Mariano Rivera allowed an RBI-single to Mo Vaughn but got Salmon to fly out to right field to lock it down.