For pitching coach Dave Eiland, that made Tuesday an important start for Wang. “Absolutely,” Eiland said. “He made the adjustments that he needed to make.”

“Every time I go to the mound for me is important,” Wang said.

Wang pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 6-1 win over the Blue Jays Tuesday, with nine of the 11 outs he recorded coming on ground balls. That was even more significant in the Yankees’ minds, because the Blue Jays have given Wang fits of late. He was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts against them last season.

“I thought he was great, especially after the first inning,” Manager Joe Girardi said.

Wang threw 59 pitches, and Jose Molina, who caught him, said: “The ball came out of his hand really good. I thought he threw well.”

Wang spent a lot of time going over video with Eiland after his last start. His balance was a little off in his delivery and he worked on that yesterday.

The results, the Yankees believed, were apparent, both in his sinker and slider. The only hits Wang allowed were a broken-bat single to Vernon Wells in the first inning and a Lyle Overbay single to centerfield in the second. He also walked two.

“I’m still not 100 percent, still not in game shape, but it will get better,” Wang said.

Changing speeds more is a priority for Wang this spring, because he wants to make sure hitters can’t just sit on his heavy sinker. So he has been emphasizing his slider and a changeup. The slider, Eiland said Tuesday, “was late and sharp,” and Wang thought he stayed back in his delivery, with the ball down. That was obvious, as he induced almost entirely ground balls.

Other than Overbay’s single, none of the Blue Jays got much traction against Wang. With so many question marks in the Yankees’ rotation, they really need Wang to be dependable this season. They could be without Andy Pettitte for a time if he is forced to testify before the FBI regarding Roger Clemens, and Mike Mussina was not his usual Mr. Reliable in 2007. Then with two or three inexperienced starters in Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees have more slots to worry about than usual.

What they don’t want is for Wang to give them any reason for worries. Eiland insists he is not concerned.

“Once he gets his stuff right, and he starts repeating his delivery,” Eiland said, “then he’s going to match up pretty well against everybody.”

^(Optional add end)

The Yankees have had five solid starts in a row. The last four, in particular, have been good. Mussina gave up one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings Saturday. Hughes pitched four innings of no-hit ball Sunday. Chamberlain threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed Monday.

“It’s what you want to see,” Girardi said, “because that means they’re making progress.”

Wang should have three starts remaining before pitching the season opener March 31. He said he is working to make sure all of his pitches are usable in games by then.

“They see me a lot during the season,” Wang said of the Blue Jays. “I need to use all the pitches.”

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