New York ? The New York Yankees need big contributions from Bernie Williams and Randy Johnson if they are going to make the playoffs, and both delivered Friday night.

Williams hit a pair of two-run homers, helping Johnson win for the first time in a month and leading the Yankees over the Kansas City Royals, 5-1.

Alex Rodriguez also homered, helping the Yankees beat the Royals for the first time this season. New York lost all three games at Kansas City from May 31 to June 2 in Buddy Bell’s first series as Royals manager, part of a season-high six-game losing streak.

“We are making our push,” Williams said. “We are obviously trying to catch up for the shaky start we had.”

Johnson (12-8) allowed four hits and struck out six in eight innings. He had been 0-2 with a 6.49 earned-run average in his last four starts.

New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams watches the flight of his second home run of the night against Kansas City. The Yankees beat the Royals, 5-1, Friday in New York.

“That was as good as I’ve seen him, just in the attack mode,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

The Big Unit blamed poor mechanics for his somewhat disappointing first season in New York. But he sorted some things out while throwing off a mound after his last start – he usually works off flat ground between outing – and the results showed Friday.

“It’s been a mechanics thing all year long and will continue to be so,” he said. “It all comes down to mechanics, and that’s one reason I’ve been inconsistent with my velocity.”

Williams hit his 11th homer in the sixth, two batters after Rodriguez homered. He added another drive in the eighth for his first multihomer game since Sept. 13, 2003, against Tampa Bay. Williams has driven in 17 runs in his last 14 games.

Mike Wood (4-5), the winning pitcher Saturday when Kansas City beat Oakland to snap its 19-game losing streak, allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. The Royals had followed their skid by winning four of five, but Friday’s loss dropped them to 0-9 at Yankee Stadium since Aug. 6, 2002.

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Mike Sweeney doubled to open the seventh and scored on Angel Berroa’s one-out single for Kansas City’s lone run.

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Notes: OF Gary Sheffield had the appeal of his two-game suspension for throwing his helmet during a game against the Mets on June 26 heard Friday by MLB executive vice president John McHale Jr. With the troubles of his uncle, Dwight Gooden, weighing on his mind, Sheffield doesn’t want to sit out, because playing helps take his mind off things. “This is my safety net,” he said. “This is what I know.” … RHP Wood was the only starter not to lose during Kansas City’s losing streak. He had no-decisions in two starts before the victory over Oakland.