New York ? Randy Johnson came out because he stiffened up a bit – or maybe he was just a little tired. Depends who you listen to. One thing is certain, though, the New York Yankees had fun facing Kansas City pitching.

Johnson won despite lasting only five innings, and New York got home runs from Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon to polish off a three-game sweep of the Royals with a 9-3 victory Thursday.

“We all knew it was only a matter of time before the offense started to come around,” Giambi said. “I think guys finally started to relax a little bit. Now, we’re coming up with that big hit, driving in that big run.”

The Yankees built a 4-0 lead for Johnson, who was pulled after 87 pitches. New York manager Joe Torre said the 42-year-old lefty got a little stiff, but didn’t think there was any “structural” problem.

“I think this is just a freak thing,” Torre said.

Johnson (2-1) first said he simply tired a bit, then agreed the trouble could be called stiffness in his right shoulder. Pitching coach Ron Guidry described it as just “general tiredness.”

“Everything’s fine. Everything’s good,” said Johnson, who told Guidry he was done after the top of the fifth. “It’s early in the year.

“Just take a little breather and let the bullpen come in. They did a nice job,” Johnson added. “I don’t need to go out there every time and pitch seven, eight innings.”

He and Torre both said they expected Johnson to make his next start. General manager Brian Cashman also said he wasn’t concerned.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, background, watches second baseman Robinson Cano, center, throw out Kansas City Royals' Mark Grudzielanek (15) after Royals' Emil Brown (not shown) grounded into a sixth-inning double play in the Yankees' 9-3 win over the Royals in their baseball game, Thursday, April 13, 2006, at Yankee Stadium in New York.

On the mound, the Big Unit looked sharp. He has 16 strikeouts and no walks in three starts. He never had gone two starts into a season without walking a batter.

Bernie Williams, who finished with three hits, and Robinson Cano each had an RBI single off Denny Bautista (0-1) for the Yankees, who have won 14 straight home games against Kansas City – a streak that dates to August 2002.

“This is a good time to get out of here,” manager Buddy Bell said.

Kansas City dropped its fourth in a row.

Johnson pitched to Kelly Stinnett, who used to catch the left-hander in Arizona as well. Torre said before the game he might stick with that combination if it worked well.

John Flaherty was Johnson’s personal catcher last season, and Torre acknowledged that Johnson and regular starter Jorge Posada didn’t work well together – perhaps because of their different personalities, the manager said.

But Torre and Posada said Thursday there was no issue or problem between the star pitcher and catcher.

Sheffield began to refocus Wednesday on using the entire field, and he did a good job of that again in the first inning Thursday with a home run to right-center. It was his second homer in two days and the 452nd of his career, tying Carl Yastrzemski for 27th on baseball’s career list.