KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Yankees’ struggling starters are beginning to put it together – just in time for a big series against Boston.

After struggling with his mechanics the last few weeks, Javier Vazquez found his and the Yankees to their second straight shutout.

Vazquez (14-9) allowed just three hits and four walks, striking out seven for his first win in six starts since beating Toronto 11-4 on August 6. He was 0-3 with a 9.99 ERA in his previous five outings.

Derek Jeter homered and doubled twice, and Tony Clark also connected for the Yankees. They entered the day with a four-game lead over Boston in the AL East and have a day off before beginning a three-game series against the Red Sox tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium.

Jason Giambi went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his second game back from the disabled list. He is hitless in his last 28 major league at-bats, the longest slump of his career.

Tom Gordon gave up one hit in the eighth, and Mariano Rivera finished the four-hitter for his major league-leading 49th save in 52 chances.

Jeter led off the game with a double and scored on Gary Sheffield’s groundout for a 1-0 lead, extending his hitting and scoring streaks to 11 games.

Jeter was at the plate in the top of the fifth when the game was halted for a 25-minute rain delay.

Kansas City starter Darrell May (9-18) had a season-high eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings but still added to his major league-leading loss total.

The rain began falling hard at the start of the fifth inning, just before Clark’s solo homer gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Jeter’s leadoff shot in the sixth cleared the fountains in left-center and bounced off the base of the Jumbotron at Kauffman Stadium, putting the Yankees up 3-0.