NEW YORK (AP) -- Randy Johnson's control was outstanding all

night. Perhaps the only time he missed the target was on his final

pitch, which sailed right past Eduardo Perez.

Elias Says
Johnson If Randy Johnson was sending a message to the Indians after Jorge Posada was plunked, he picked the right batter to tell. Eduardo Perez hit three home runs last season against Johnson, in a span of only five at-bats. The only other players to hit three home runs in five at-bats against the Big Unit are Chipper Jones and Marquis Grissom. • For more Elias Says, Click here.

Johnson's encouraging outing ended abruptly when he was ejected

for throwing inside, and the New York Yankees beat the slumping

Cleveland Indians 6-1 in a testy game Wednesday.

"This could be a great turnaround for him," Yankees manager

Joe Torre said. "It looked like he was proud of his stuff, proud

enough to dare them to hit it."

Johnny Damon and Andy Phillips homered for New York, which won

its second straight after dropping four in a row. Bernie Williams

added a key RBI double and Robinson Cano had three hits, sending

Cleveland to its 14th loss in 16 games at Yankee Stadium since the

start of 2002.

Indians starter Jason Johnson couldn't equal The Big Unit in a

matchup of Johnson vs. Johnson, and Cleveland's dangerous lineup

was shut down for the second consecutive night. The Indians have

lost five of six and eight of 11 overall.

Derek Jeter got buzzed up and in during the fifth inning, and

Jorge Posada and Jason Johnson (3-7) exchanged words after the New

York catcher was hit near the elbow by a pitch in the sixth. That's

when both benches were warned.

"I don't know what he was yelling about," Jason Johnson said.

"I have no idea and I don't even care. ... I came in on a lot of

guys today -- I have to."

With Randy Johnson (8-5) nursing a 6-1 lead the following

inning, Perez, a longtime nemesis, came to the plate with one out

and nobody on. The Big Unit threw his first pitch way inside, and

Perez pointed his bat at the mound and took a few steps toward the

pitcher.

"It was obvious to everybody that he threw at him," Cleveland

manager Eric Wedge said.

And Perez was obviously angry about it.

"I was taught how to play this game, and that's not the way you

play the game -- unless someone changed the memo and didn't tell

me," he said.

Posada stepped in front of Perez as both benches emptied, but no

punches were thrown.

"I think both teams handled themselves the way they should,"

New York slugger Jason Giambi said. "Randy was just protecting his

catcher. That's baseball."

Randy Johnson and Torre were immediately ejected as the crowd of

53,448 chanted "Randy! Randy!" with delight.

"Bad timing and intent," umpire crew chief Dana DeMuth said.

"That's exactly what we saw, and that's why we did what we did."

Posada was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh with a sore

elbow because he couldn't swing a bat, Torre said. The catcher

bolted quickly from the clubhouse after the game, saying he had

"nothing to talk about."

"It was important. We've been getting a lot of guys beat up

here," Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said. "It's a part of the game

you don't like to talk about too much. But guys have to take care

of each other."

The ejection ended one of the best starts of a disappointing

season for Randy Johnson, who has been struggling with his

mechanics.

He allowed one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings for his 271st

win, striking out six and walking none.

"My velocity was up," he said, adding he's not worried about a

possible suspension. "It's a step in the right direction."

Scott Proctor and Ron Villone finished up with scoreless relief.

Phillips made a courageous play to end the game, lunging into the

first-base stands to catch a popup.

Cano grounded into a double play after Posada was plunked in the

sixth, but Jason Johnson quickly unraveled after that. Williams hit

an RBI double, and Phillips' two-run shot made it 6-1. The

right-hander walked off the mound to a chorus of boos.

Rodriguez singled to start the inning, snapping a 1-for-14 skid.

Following Chien-Ming Wang's gem in a 1-0 victory Tuesday night

that stopped New York's four-game skid, Randy Johnson threw 54 of

77 pitches for strikes.

The Big Unit, who walked five batters in his previous start,

retired 11 straight before Perez's leadoff single in the fifth.

Perez scored on Ben Broussard's double-play grounder.

Perez is 9-for-29 (.310) against Randy Johnson with four homers,

a double and seven RBI.

"I've faced Randy Johnson. Let's put it this way: If he's going

to hit you, he's going to hit you," Perez said. "Maybe in the

back of his mind he knew something. How are you going to

intentionally hit Jorge with no one out and first base occupied?

Those guys are veterans over there. They know how to play the game.

I was a little surprised right there."

The Yankees went ahead in the fourth. Giambi, back in the lineup

after missing two games with a bruised left hand, doubled off the

center-field fence to put runners at second and third.

Rodriguez hit an RBI grounder and Cano added a run-scoring

single with two outs. Damon hit a solo shot in the fifth.

Jason Johnson lost his third straight start, allowing six runs

and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 1-7 in 10 outings since April

18.Game notes
The Indians have dropped 10 of 13 road games. ... Randy

Johnson improved to 12-4 against Cleveland. ... Jason Johnson is

2-9 against the Yankees.