Yanks win testy game

Cleveland has lost 14 of its last 16 games.
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.
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."
Banged up
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," 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 61/3 innings, 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."
Perez is 9-for-29 (.310) against Randy Johnson with four homers, a double and seven RBIs.
"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."
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