Matsui Goes 0-for-4 in Return to Claim Championship Ring

Derek Jeter homered, Jorge Posada had three hits, Andy Pettitte dazzled and Mariano Rivera closed it out. Nothing more fitting on the day World Series rings were handed out in the Bronx.

The core four each picked up championship bling No. 5, then led the New York Yankees to a win in their home opener Tuesday, 7-5 over the Los Angeles Angels in front of a record-crowd that included owner George Steinbrenner.

The Angels’ Hideki Matsui might have gotten the loudest ovation of the stirring ceremony that celebrated the Yankees’ 27th title, with fans welcoming back the World Series MVP. But the stars who’d worn pinstripes the longest wound up as winners, once again.

With the 2009 World Series banner whipping in a chilly breeze, Pettitte (1-0) returned to the Yankee Stadium mound for the first time since he won the clinching Game 6 against Philadelphia last November. He threw 100 pitches in six crisp innings as the Yankees dropped the Angels to 2-6, their worst start since 1972.

Rivera was needed to earn his third save after another ex-Yankee, Bobby Abreu, hit a grand slam in the ninth off Dave Robertson to make it 7-5.

Matsui was mobbed by his former teammates near the mound after getting his ring in the pregame festivities. He was regaled with a prolonged standing salute when he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning.

The Angels’ designated hitter stepped out and tipped his helmet before striking out — another cheer — to end the inning and got tangled with Posada, who playfully tagged him a couple of times. Matsui went 0 for 4 in front of a record regular-season crowd of 49,293 at the ballpark, now in its second year.

Jeter, who led off the Yankees’ last regular-season home game with a home run, hit his first homer of the year in the fourth and hit a sharp grounder off Ervin Santana’s thigh for another RBI in the fifth.

Nick Johnson also homered for New York, who hit team-record 136 homers in their first year at the ballpark. The most home runs across 161st Street, now a fading memory — thanks to a wrecking crew — was 126 in 2004 and ’05.

Johnson homered off Santana (0-2) in his first at-bat in pinstripes since 2003, when he was traded to Montreal during the offseason, helping the Yankees win for the 12th time in the last 13 home openers. They were routed by Cleveland in the first game at the new stadium on April 16, 2009.

Alex Rodriguez received his first World Series and later drove in two runs with a three-hop single off reliever Jason Bulger that nicked diving shortstop Erick Aybar’s glove in the sixth to make it 5-0. Posada drove in a run, too.

Pettitte became the first pitcher in postseason history to start and win all three clinching games, including Game 6 of the ALCS against the Angels, and he began this season in equally fine fashion. He allowed a run and six hits against Boston in his first start and shut down the Angels’ speedy offense for his 230th career win.

He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out six before giving way to Chan Ho Park for the seventh. Kendry Morales hit a drive into the second deck in right field off Park in the eighth to make it 5-1.

NOTES: Angels reserve OF Reggie Willits (hamstring) should be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. LHP Scott Kazmir (hamstring) had a bullpen session Monday and will start against New York on Thursday. … Dodgers manager Joe Torre was happy for Girardi. Girardi came to New York in 1996, Torre’s first season as Yankees manager and played on three championship teams. “I’m very proud of what he’s done,” Torre said in Los Angeles. … Posada hit his 345th double, passing Mickey Mantle for seventh on the Yankees all-time list. … Longtime Yankees trainer Gene Monahan, who has been out while undergoing treatment for a serious illness, received his ring. Players and staff hugged him and fans gave Monahan a warm reception. … Mark Teixeira was 0 for 3 and is 3 for 27 (.111) thus far.

HOWIE RUMBERG, AP Sports Writer NEW YORK