DETROIT (AP) – Randy Johnson didn’t give up a hit for 5 2-3 innings and combined with two relievers for a two-hitter, leading the New York Yankees over the Detroit Tigers 4-0 Monday.

Ivan Rodriguez broke up Johnson’s bid for his third no-hitter – and second against the Tigers – with a single to right. After ending the sixth inning by striking out Magglio Ordonez, Johnson pumped his left hand as he walked off the mound – likely feeling good about his first strong outing in more than a month.

Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter drove in runs in the third. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada had RBIs in the fifth to make it 4-0.

Jeter injured his right hand and left the game. He jammed the hand in the third inning while sliding into second base. After batting in the fifth, he was taken out for precautionary reasons so that his hand could be iced, the Yankees said.

Jeter, who was 0-for-3 Monday, began the game hitting an AL-best .352.

Johnson (7-4) left the game after Carlos Guillen’s leadoff single in the seventh. Reliever Ron Villone retired the next three batters, keeping a run off of Johnson’s line. Villone also pitched the eighth, and Kyle Farnsworth worked a perfect ninth inning.

The 42-year-old Johnson, who had given up at least four runs in five of his previous six outings, allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out four over six-plus innings.

Jeremy Bonderman (5-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in 7 1-3 innings. Bonderman, who struck out five and walked two, had won four of his previous five decisions.

Despite their second straight loss – both shutouts – the Tigers (35-16) have the best record in baseball.

The Yankees (29-20) are nine games above .500 for the first time this season with their fifth win in sixth games.

Detroit first baseman Chris Shelton was pulled off the bag twice in the third inning, turning potential double plays into scoring opportunities for the Yankees. Damon’s single and Jeter’s fielder’s choice put New York ahead 2-0.

On a scorching day with the game-time temperature at 92 degrees, Johnson pitched like he wanted to get out of innings quickly.

Johnson needed just seven pitches to retire the side in the first. He survived the second unscathed when right fielder Gary Sheffield lunged for the final out after chasing it down on the warning track in right-center.

Just when it seemed that Johnson was losing his control with a pair of two-out walks in the third, he got Marcus Thames to hit into an inning-ending groundout.

In the fourth, Johnson sandwiched two strikeouts around third baseman Rodriguez’s charging play on Ordonez’s grounder.

Notes: Johnson, the last pitcher with a no-hitter against Detroit (June 2, 1990), had his last no-hit performance for Arizona against Atlanta (May 18, 2004). … Posada caught for the Yankees after missing four games with a hamstring injury. … With Detroit LHP Mike Maroth on the DL, RHP Roman Colon will make his first start of the season on Tuesday. The Tigers acquired Colon from Atlanta last year as part of a trade involving Farnsworth. … The game drew 39,759 fans.

AP-ES-05-29-06 1610EDT